Prevention
Anyone who has had chickenpox may get
shingles later in life. But there's a vaccine that may
help prevent shingles or make it less painful if you do get it. The
shingles vaccine
(What is a PDF document?) is known as Zostavax. One dose is recommended for adults age
60 and older, whether or not they've had shingles before.7
If you have never had
chickenpox, you may avoid getting the virus that
causes both chickenpox and later shingles by receiving the
varicella vaccine.
One study showed that
people who practiced
tai chi exercises had immunity against the varicella virus similar to people
who got the shingles vaccine.8
If you
have never had chickenpox and have never gotten the chickenpox vaccine, avoid
contact with people who have shingles or chickenpox. Fluid from shingles
blisters is contagious. Exposure to this fluid can cause chickenpox (but not
shingles) in people who have never had chickenpox and who have never gotten the
chickenpox vaccine.
If you develop shingles, avoid close contact
with people until after the
rash
blisters heal. It is especially important to
avoid contact with people who are at special risk from chickenpox or shingles,
such as:
- Pregnant women, infants, children, or anyone
who has never had chickenpox.
- Anyone who is currently
ill.
- Anyone with a weak
immune system who is unable to fight infection (such
as someone with
HIV infection or
diabetes).
If you cover the shingles sores with a type of dressing
that absorbs fluid and protects the sores, you can help prevent the spread of
the virus to other people.