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For How Long Should Isolation Be Done After Shingles Vaccination?

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Posted on Fri, 26 Dec 2014
Twitter Fri, 26 Dec 2014 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 22 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on
Question : I just got the shingles vaccination and I need to know how long I must stay away from my 2 week old grandson.
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The risk of transmission is close to zero

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

According to the centers of disease control and prevention and relevant medical literature shingles vaccination is considered safe for the contacts of the vaccinated person even if they are not vaccinated themselves or have not had chickenpox in the past. So unless you develop a rash, no transmission is supposed to happen. Even if you do develop a rash the transmission rate would probably be very very low because in many instances no virus is detected in the lesion specimen with sensitive methods like the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Minimal contact with a 2 week baby is suggested anyway! There are so many pathogens that can be transmitted even if you don't have any symptoms, that you shouldn't take the risk. A fever in a 2 weeks old baby would probably result in hospitalization, so caution is advised!
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like more information, please let me know.

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3815 Questions

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For How Long Should Isolation Be Done After Shingles Vaccination?

Brief Answer: The risk of transmission is close to zero Detailed Answer: Hello, According to the centers of disease control and prevention and relevant medical literature shingles vaccination is considered safe for the contacts of the vaccinated person even if they are not vaccinated themselves or have not had chickenpox in the past. So unless you develop a rash, no transmission is supposed to happen. Even if you do develop a rash the transmission rate would probably be very very low because in many instances no virus is detected in the lesion specimen with sensitive methods like the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Minimal contact with a 2 week baby is suggested anyway! There are so many pathogens that can be transmitted even if you don't have any symptoms, that you shouldn't take the risk. A fever in a 2 weeks old baby would probably result in hospitalization, so caution is advised! I hope I've helped! If you'd like more information, please let me know. Kind Regards!