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Shingles Information for the Public
Shingles (also called herpes zoster, or just zoster) is a painful skin rash, usually with blisters. In addition to the rash,
Shingles is a painful rash illness. People get shingles when the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox, reactivates in their bodies after they have already had chickenpox.
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Transmission (Spread)
Shingles is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox.
- Once a person has chickenpox, the virus stays in their body.
- The virus can reactivate later in life and cause shingles.
People who never had chickenpox or didn't get chickenpox vaccine can get infected with VZV from someone who has shingles. These people can get the virus through:
- Direct contact with the fluid from shingles rash blisters.
- Breathing in virus particles that come from the blisters.
People with chickenpox are more likely to spread VZV than people with shingles.
About Shingles (Herpes Zoster) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Prevention
Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect yourself against this painful disease.
- CDC recommends two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix) to prevent shingles and related complications in adults 50 years and older.
- Vaccination is over 90% effective at preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia in adults 50 years and older with healthy immune systems.
- Shingrix is also recommended for adults 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems.
To prevent spreading the virus to others:
- Cover the rash
- Avoid touching or scratching the rash
- Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid contact with the following people until your rash scabs over
- Pregnant people who never had chickenpox or chickenpox vaccine
- Premature or low birth weight infants
- People with weakened immune systems
People with shingles cannot spread the virus before the blisters appear or after the rash scabs over.
Shingles Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Signs and Symptoms
People with shingles most commonly have a rash around the left or right side of the body. The rash is usually painful, itchy, or tingly.
Shingles can lead to serious complications. The most common shingles complication is long-term nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN.
About Shingles (Herpes Zoster) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Risk of Disease
About 1 million people develop shingles each year in the U.S.
About 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will develop shingles in their lifetime.
Half of people who live to age 85 will develop shingles.
Shingles Facts and Stats (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Reporting
A notifiable disease is one that doctors must report to state or local public health officials.
Public health officials track some diseases because they can spread easily, are serious, or happen often.
Notifiable diseases in Michigan:
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Condition
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Pathogen -
Questions About
Get answers to frequently asked questions about Shingles and the vaccine used to prevent it.
Shingles (Zoster): Questions and Answers (immunize.org)
Ask The Experts About Vaccines: Zoster (Shingles) | Immunize.org
Video: What is Shingles? (National Institute on Aging)
Video: Shingles: What You Need to Know to Avoid a World of Pain, Explained in 60 Seconds (Alliance for Aging Research) -
For More Information
Shingles Vaccination
Shingles: The Disease & Vaccines (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
How Vaccines Work
Video: How Do Vaccines Work? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Spanish version: ¿Cómo funcionan las vacunas? (American Academy of Pediatrics) -
Access Your Immunization Record
If you have been immunized in the State of Michigan, you may be able to download your immunization record from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).
Visit the Michigan Immunization Portal to learn more or contact your healthcare provider.