Shingles vaccine: Can I transmit the vaccine virus to others?

When I got the shingles vaccine last week, I was told to stay away from my pregnant daughter-in-law and my grandchildren. Can you tell me why? How long do I have to stay away from them?

- Diane / No state given

Mayo Clinic infectious disease specialist James Steckelberg, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

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Shingles

The shingles vaccine (Zostavax) is made from a live, attenuated strain of the virus (herpes zoster) that causes shingles. In rare instances, it may be possible for someone who develops a rash from the shingles vaccine to transmit the vaccine virus to another person. This is a theoretical concern, especially for pregnant women and children who haven't had chickenpox or haven't been vaccinated against chickenpox.

If you develop a rash — which looks similar to the rash that occurs in shingles or chickenpox — after receiving the shingles vaccine, talk to your doctor about precautions you should take in avoiding contact with your daughter-in-law and grandchildren. When you have shingles, it is generally recommended that you avoid close contact with people susceptible to chickenpox while the skin rash is active, usually around seven to 10 days.

If you don't develop a rash from the vaccine, it's not necessary to avoid contact with susceptible people.