• Zoster (Shingles)
  • Vaccine Recommendations

If a person was exposed to shingles by a spouse within the last few days, is there a recommended waiting period before the exposed person can receive zoster vaccine?

There is no waiting period in such a situation. Shingles is not caused by exposure to another person with shingles. Shingles is caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in people who have had a prior VZV infection or varicella vaccination. However, exposure to someone with shingles can possibly cause chickenpox in a person with no immunity to varicella zoster virus (VZV) from either vaccination or prior chickenpox infection.

Last reviewed: March 9, 2022

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