Shingles Rates Drop Among Younger Americans, Study Finds

A large observational study of more than 85 million U. S. adults, published October 2, 2026, shows a sharp decline in shingles diagnoses among people born after the mid‑1990s, the first cohort eligible for routine childhood chickenpox vaccination. The study, covering January 2017 to June 2026, reports a 62 % lower rate—17 per 10,000—among those born 1996‑2000 compared with 46 per 10,000 in older adults born 1968‑1975. Even younger cohorts (2006‑2008) had only seven per 10,000. Researchers suggest the decline aligns with the protective effect of the varicella vaccine, though the data are associative and lack individual vaccination records. They note that COVID‑19–related healthcare disruptions could have influenced diagnosis rates. The authors recommend that adults follow established vaccine schedules and consider the shingles vaccine at age 50 or earlier if immunocompromised, while further studies are needed to confirm the long‑term benefit of childhood varicella immunization.