Shingles is reactivated chickenpox. The virus you had as a child has been kept in check by your immune system, but is still hiding in your body alongside some nervere bundles.
As you age, your immune system starts to become a little senile and forgets old enemies like chicken pox. This results in a flare up along whatever nerves it’s been hiding out in.
It hurts like hellfire because it’s attacking your nerve endings.
The shingles vaccine wakes up your immune system and reminds it to keep that enemy under control.
Get the shot, unless you have a strong desire to suffer repeated bouts of shingles in your elder years.
I got shingles in my 30s. I had chicken pox when in was in second grade. My father and I developed shingles at the same time. We had visited my mother in the hospital. Turned out her hospital roomie had chicken pox. I got it on my torso very painful to wear clothes. I would never get the shingles vaccine.