Shingles Vaccine, by Frances Smith

I've recently been asked questions about the Shingles vaccine, and thus the topic for today. We do provide it at the Health Department for $179.59 (only one dose needed). You have to be 60 or older to be eligible (because the vaccine research was not done on people younger than 60). Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus--the same virus that causes chickenpox.

If you were born in the U.S. before 1980, you are presumed to have had chickenpox or to be immune to chicken pox (maybe you had exposure but didn't break out). You are susceptible to getting Shingles because the virus stays in your body. The Zoster vaccine can help to prevent Shingles, or lessen the severity. The older you get, the more likely you are to have a case of Shingles (about a 50% chance by age 85).

Can Shingles cause chickenpox? Yes. When the Shingles rash is in the blister state, the varicella virus can be transmitted by direct contact with the rash and cause chickenpox. A person with Shingles is not infectious before blisters appear or after the rash is gone (even though pain may continue).

If someone has already had Shingles, the zoster vaccine can help to prevent another case in the future. For young people who did not have chickenpox, and have had 2 doses of the varicella vaccine to prevent chickenpox, the Shingles vaccine is unnecessary.