Is the Shingles Vaccine Covered by the NVICP?

Shingles is an inflammation of the nerves caused by a dormant chickenpox infection, and typically appears in adults over 50. There are only two shingles vaccines offered in the United States: Zostavax, made by Merck, and Shingrix, made by GlaxoSmithKline.

Unfortunately, neither shingles vaccine is covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This is the reality even though many of the side-effects and conditions may be the same or similar to other vaccines that are covered by the NVICP, including acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), encephalitis, and other life-threatening problems.

This doesn’t mean you’re out of options though. You may still have the opportunity to pursue litigation against the vaccine manufacturer. The time limits to pursue such claims are often more limited so you should contact us immediately if you feel that you may have a claim related to a shingles vaccine injury.