I get shingles regularly. can i have the varicella-zoster vaccine? i wouldn't think so since it's for prevention, but i've heard otherwise.

Very unusual: It would be very unusual for a young person who is otherwise healthy to get shingles, let alone recurrent shingles. How has it been diagnosed? A viral culture may help define it with certainty. Please see your doctor as what you are describing isn't normal and should be investigated. If it truly is recurrent shingles then a search for the underlying cause needs to be undertaken.