Key Takeaways
The main point
Many people say “herpes” but mean different viruses. Herpes simplex is not shingles, and neither is HPV.
What vaccines can and cannot do
There is no licensed vaccine that prevents herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). A vaccine called Shingrix helps prevent shingles, which comes from a different virus. A vaccine called Gardasil 9 helps prevent new human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.
Why age and timing matter right now
On January 7, 2026, the person at the center of this story is forty-five and will turn forty-six on March 3, 2026. That timing matters most for HPV vaccination, because routine adult guidance is strongest through age forty-five.
Habits matter, but not in the way most people think
Walking barefoot, touching the face often, and not washing hands regularly are not the usual way herpes simplex spreads. Still, clean hands can lower risk for many infections and can help avoid moving germs from mouth to eyes or broken skin.
Story & Details
A simple question with two different meanings
A friend worries about “herpes” after seeing a man often walk barefoot, touch his face, and skip regular handwashing. The man is forty-five and takes methylphenidate 36 mg daily, atorvastatin 10 mg daily, losartan 50 mg daily, and fluoxetine 20 mg daily. The question lands hard and simple: is it worth getting “the herpes vaccine,” and what about HPV?
The first step is naming the virus. “Herpes” can point to herpes simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2), or to shingles (also called herpes zoster). Those are different infections, with different vaccines, and different age guidance.
Herpes simplex: common, lifelong, and often quiet
Herpes simplex is a very common viral infection that can show up as small blisters or sores on the skin. HSV-1 is often linked to cold sores around the mouth and lips, and it commonly spreads through direct contact with infected oral secretions. HSV-2 is more often linked to sores around the genital or anal area and is usually spread through sexual contact.
The pattern is not strict. HSV-1 can infect the genital area through oral sex, and HSV-2 can appear around the mouth, though that is less common. A key detail is that spread can happen even when no sore is visible.
Herpes simplex also tends to stay for life. After the first infection, the virus can hide in nerve tissue and become quiet for long periods. Later, it can reactivate and cause outbreaks. Some people notice a warning phase before sores appear, with burning, tingling, itching, or pain in the area. Triggers can include fever, strong sunlight, stress, and a weakened immune system. Outbreak frequency varies from person to person, and genital HSV-2 tends to recur more often than HSV-1.
Treatment: control, not cure
Antiviral medicines do not remove herpes simplex from the body, but they can slow viral growth and shorten outbreaks. Common options include valacyclovir, acyclovir, and famciclovir. These medicines work best when started early, during the warning phase before sores fully appear. For people with very frequent or severe outbreaks, a daily suppressive dose may reduce recurrences and lower the chance of passing the virus to a partner.
For pain, topical numbing medicines such as lidocaine can help some people tolerate symptoms.
Herpes simplex can also affect other body parts. It can infect a finger (herpetic whitlow) and it can infect the eye (herpetic keratitis). These are uncommon, but they help explain why clean hands still matter when someone has an active sore.
So, should there be a “herpes vaccine”?
For herpes simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2), there is no licensed vaccine. That means there is no shot to take now that reliably prevents HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection.
But there is a herpes-family vaccine for a different virus: shingles. Shingles comes from the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingrix is the shingles vaccine used in many places, and major guidance from the United States (North America) recommends it mainly for adults age fifty and older, and for some adults age nineteen and older with weakened immune systems. At forty-five, and with the daily medicines listed above, the man does not sound automatically placed into the “weakened immune system” group by medication alone.
This is why the word “herpes” can mislead. Shingrix is not a herpes simplex vaccine. It targets shingles risk, not HSV-1 or HSV-2.
What about HPV: a vaccine that can still help, but not always
HPV is a different virus family. It is spread mainly through sexual contact and can cause genital warts and several cancers, including cancers of the throat and anogenital area. The HPV vaccine is preventive: it lowers risk of future infection with the HPV types it covers. It does not treat an HPV infection someone already has.
In the United States (North America), Gardasil 9 is licensed for males through age forty-five. Public health guidance also says that adults age twenty-seven through forty-five may consider HPV vaccination after a focused talk about risk and likely benefit, because benefit is highest before exposure and tends to drop with age and years of sexual activity.
This timing detail matters on January 7, 2026. The man is still forty-five, with a forty-sixth birthday set for March 3, 2026. If HPV vaccination is desired, the strongest “within label” window in the United States (North America) is open now and may be different after that birthday, depending on local policy.
In Mexico (North America) and many other places, public programs often focus on adolescents first because that is where HPV vaccination has the biggest population impact. Adult access can still exist, but it may be more variable and often runs through private care.
Hygiene and daily habits: what they change, and what they do not
Herpes simplex spread is mainly direct skin-to-skin contact, especially with oral secretions for HSV-1 and sexual contact for HSV-2. It is not typically caught from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or common objects like soap or towels. So a barefoot habit, by itself, is not a strong herpes simplex story.
Still, handwashing is not “nothing.” Clean hands reduce many everyday risks, and they matter more when there is an active sore, because touching a sore and then touching eyes can raise the chance of eye infection. Face touching is also a fast path for many common germs to reach the nose, mouth, and eyes.
A short Dutch mini-lesson for one useful habit
Sometimes a new habit sticks better when it has a short phrase.
In the Netherlands (Europe), a simple reminder can be: “Was je handen.”
Whole idea in plain English: wash hands.
Word-by-word: was = wash, je = your, handen = hands.
Register and use: everyday, friendly, normal at home or at work.
Natural variants: “Was je handen even.” adds a soft “just for a moment.”
A second phrase can help with face touching: “Niet aan je gezicht zitten.”
Whole idea in plain English: do not touch the face.
Word-by-word: niet = not, aan = on/to, je = your, gezicht = face, zitten = sit.
Register and use: informal, often said as a quick reminder.
Natural variants: “Niet aan je gezicht.” is shorter and very common.
Conclusions
The calm bottom line
The word “herpes” hides two different vaccine stories. There is no licensed vaccine for herpes simplex (HSV-1 or HSV-2), so vaccination is not a tool for that virus today. Shingrix is for shingles, a different virus, and is usually aimed at older adults or people with specific immune risks. HPV is a separate question again: the HPV vaccine can prevent new infections, and at forty-five on January 7, 2026, the timing is especially relevant because the next birthday is March 3, 2026.
What is worth remembering
Clear names beat fear. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are managed with knowledge, safer contact, and antiviral treatment when needed. Shingles prevention is a vaccine story, but it is not the same virus. HPV prevention is also a vaccine story, and it is often most valuable when given before exposure, with a shrinking window in mid-adulthood.
Selected References
Core medical facts
[1] World Health Organization: Herpes simplex virus fact sheet — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States (North America): About Genital Herpes — https://www.cdc.gov/herpes/about/index.html
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States (North America): Shingles Vaccination — https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccines/index.html
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States (North America): HPV Vaccination Recommendations — https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/hcp/recommendations.html
[5] U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States (North America): Gardasil 9 — https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/gardasil-9
[6] National Library of Medicine, United States (North America): Sixteen Years of HPV Vaccination in Mexico (North America) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12294797/
One video from a public health source
[7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States (North America): Answering Parents’ Questions About HPV Vaccination: Why does my child need to get the HPV vaccine? — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-0wTidWyVI
Appendix
Definitions A–Z
Acyclovir. An antiviral medicine used to treat herpes simplex outbreaks; it can shorten symptoms when started early and can be used daily for suppressive therapy in some cases.
Antiviral. A medicine that slows or blocks virus growth; it helps the immune system gain control but often does not remove the virus from the body.
Atorvastatin. A medicine that lowers cholesterol; it is not used to treat viral infections.
Famciclovir. An antiviral medicine used for herpes simplex outbreaks and sometimes for longer suppressive use.
Fluoxetine. An antidepressant medicine; it is not an antiviral and does not treat herpes or HPV.
Gardasil 9. A vaccine that helps prevent infection from several HPV types linked to cancers and genital warts; it prevents new infections and does not treat existing infection.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). A herpes simplex virus often linked to cold sores around the mouth; it can also cause genital infection.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). A herpes simplex virus more often linked to genital infection; outbreaks can recur over time.
Herpes zoster. Another name for shingles, caused by varicella-zoster virus; it is different from herpes simplex.
Herpetic keratitis. An eye infection caused by herpes simplex virus; it can be serious and needs prompt medical care.
Herpetic whitlow. A painful herpes simplex infection of a finger, usually from direct contact with the virus.
Human papillomavirus (HPV). A group of viruses spread mainly by sexual contact; some types can cause genital warts and several cancers.
Losartan. A blood pressure medicine; it is not an antiviral and is not used to treat herpes or HPV.
Methylphenidate. A medicine often used for attention symptoms; it is not an antiviral and is not used to treat herpes or HPV.
Prodrome. A short warning phase before an outbreak, when early symptoms like tingling or burning can appear.
Shingrix. A vaccine used to help prevent shingles; it targets varicella-zoster virus, not herpes simplex virus.
Suppressive therapy. Daily antiviral treatment used to lower outbreak frequency and reduce the chance of passing herpes simplex to a partner.
Valacyclovir. An antiviral medicine commonly used for herpes simplex; it can be used for outbreak treatment or daily suppressive therapy.
Varicella-zoster virus. The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles; it is part of the herpes virus family but is not herpes simplex.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 