My Husband Who Had Chicken Pox As A Child Was

Posted on Fri, 30 Nov 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : My husband who had chicken pox as a child was was diagnosed with shingles twice in the last 2 years. He's is 49 now. He never had the shot until the 2nd time.
I am the wife at 47 years old and I have had chickenpox too as a kid but I've NEVER had shingles. I also have multiple sclerosis and the doctors and CVS AND Walgreen's both say I can't get the shingle shot because I am not 50 yrs.
I've already had both my fl shot and pneumonia shots. WHY can't I get the shingle shot but I already have a compromised immune system?

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Chicken pox vaccine not given in compromised immune system

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.

I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

Though immune-deficienct people will theoretically benefit most from vaccines, chiecken pox/shingles vaccine is a live-attenuated vaccine and there is increased chance of complications from the vaccine itself.

If there is less immunosuppression, then no specific recommendations exist and you are eligible for a vaccine. In severe immunosuppression, it should not be taken at all.

In my opinion, you must go for complete blood count (CBC) and chicken pox antibodies (IgG). If the CBC is normal and chicken pox antibodies are not present, then go for vaccine. If antibodies are present, then no need of vaccine.

Age is not a factor for this vaccine.

Hope this answer is clear. Let me know if you have more doubts.
Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar