Lower Shingles Vaccine Age to 40: Rising Cases, New Dementia Prevention Evidence

I am writing to urge you to advocate for lowering the shingles vaccine age requirement from 50 to a more reasonable threshold that reflects current medical knowledge. Like many Americans, I have friends in their 30s and 40s who have suffered from shingles, yet I cannot access the highly effective Shingrix vaccine because of an outdated age restriction that no longer aligns with scientific evidence. Shingles rates have dramatically increased among younger adults, with cases in Americans under 50 quadrupling from the 1940s to early 2000s (National Geographic, 2023). A recent Duke University study found shingles cases rose significantly among people in their 30s and 40s between 2018-2021. The CDC acknowledges that stress, depression, and chronic illness can weaken immune systems in otherwise healthy young adults, making them vulnerable to shingles outbreaks. Breakthrough research provides compelling evidence for expanding access beyond preventing shingles alone. Multiple peer-reviewed studies published in Nature Medicine and other leading journals show that Shingrix vaccination reduces dementia risk by 17-20% over six years, with patients gaining an average of 164 additional dementia-free days (Nature Medicine, 2024). Stanford researchers called this "some of the strongest evidence" that vaccines can prevent cognitive decline by reducing harmful inflammation in the nervous system. Given that dementia affects over 6.9 million Americans and costs families devastating emotional and financial burdens, the vaccine's dual benefits make expansion even more urgent. I urge you to support legislation requiring insurers to cover Shingrix for adults starting at age 40, and to press the CDC to update its recommendations based on current disease patterns and new evidence. The vaccine's proven safety record and remarkable effectiveness—over 90% protection against shingles and significant dementia risk reduction—justify making it accessible before people suffer preventable illness or cognitive decline.