Shingles is a burning, blistering rash cause by a reactivation of the same virus that causes chicken pox. One possible complication of shingles is a condition called post-herpetic neuralgia, which causes severe pain that can last months after the rash has gone away.
The shingles vaccine is made of weakened portions of the chicken pox virus and has been shown to prevent shingles from developing or lessen the severity of the symptoms. It also helps prevent post-herpetic neuralgia. Recent studies have shown that it helps prevent recurrences even in people who've had shingles in the past.

