Prevention

Shingles most often affects people who have had chickenpox. The best way to prevent shingles is to have the chickenpox vaccine.

To avoid spreading the virus to others, people with shingles can:

• avoid direct contact with others
• cover the rash
• try not to touch or scratch the rash
• clean their hands frequently

Some individuals are more at risk of developing severe shingles complications than others. It means that children with shingles should take extra care not to spread the virus when they are around them.

Those most at risk include:

• babies less than 1 month old
• pregnant people who have not had a chickenpox vaccine
• people with immune conditions such as HIV and AIDS
• individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy or recovering from an organ transplant