Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Shingles is not contagious. You can’t get shingles from someone who has it, or pick it up from a particular environment.

The varicella virus can be passed from one person to another, but only when:

• a person has shingles with a rash in the blister phase
• the other person has not had chickenpox. In this case the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox but would not develop shingles.

You can get shingles at any age if you’ve had chickenpox. But older adults and those who are immunocompromised (e.g. HIV+, defects in T-cell function) get it most often. Age is the most important risk factor.

Signs & Symptoms

Before the rash appears, people often have pain, itching, or tingling in the area where it will develop. This may happen several days prior.

Common symptoms of shingles are:

• A rash that occurs in a single stripe around either the left or the right side of the body
• A rash may occur on one side of the face
• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Upset stomach

Several antiviral medicines are available to treat shingles and shorten the length and severity of the illness. These medicines are most effective if you start taking them as soon as possible after the rash appears. If you think you have shingles, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss treatment.

Pain medicine, either over-the-counter or a prescription from your doctor, may help relieve the pain caused by shingles. Wet compresses, calamine lotion, and colloidal oatmeal baths (a lukewarm bath mixed with ground up oatmeal) may help relieve itching.

If you’re between 65 and 70 years old, you can get vaccinated against shingles free of charge in Ontario. The vaccine reduces your chance of getting the virus by more than 50%, depending on your age.

In October 2020, the Ontario publicly funded shingles immunization program, available for Ontario seniors ages 65 to 70 years, began transitioning from funding the Zostavax^® II to the Shingrix^® vaccine. The program eligibility remains the same, however Shingrix^® is provided in a two-dose series.

Eligibility

To be eligible to get the free shingles vaccine in Ontario, you must be 65 to 70 years old and have not previously received a publicly funded shingles vaccine.

Since immunization services have been impacted over the past year as a result of physical distancing and other public health measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals born from 1949 to 1952 who missed the opportunity to receive the publicly funded shingles vaccine are eligible to receive Shingrix® and complete the 2- dose series by December 31, 2023.

If you don’t qualify for the free shingles vaccine, you can still get vaccinated with a prescription from your family doctor or other primary care provider. But you have to pay for it yourself.