My elderly brother (81) got the anti shingles vaccine a month ago....

[Peregrine Took]

Now his wife and daughter both have shingles. Coincidence?

Its a big problems as his wife has Altzheimer's and its very hard for her to go to the doctor, etc as she doesn't want to leave the house.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. Can't you get a doctor to come to your house or a nurse practioner? Ask your primary care doctor.

Am sure they can help you. They have places where if she is on medicare they can send home health aide.

[Celebration]

2. good gosh

Reminds me of when I was sixteen years old.......my MD dad took me to visit my great aunt who had shingles. I specifically asked him if it was contagious. He said NO!! I went, and came down with shingles within a few weeks. Then I asked him "Coincidence?" He said "Well, we don't know everything." I think the science on this is the same now.

I just can't imagine how awful this is for your family right now.........hopefully things will get under control soon. It was bad enough at sixteen years old. It must be terrible for an elderly person.

[El Supremo]

3. Oh oh.

I just got my shingles shot Saturday. They say it and shingles aren't contagious. But someone could get chickenpox.

[onlyadream]

4. Yep

My husband had the shingles and then I caught the chicken pox from him. My son, who was vacillated, also got the chicken pox at the same time. Not a good month.

hope the OP's brother and wife gets well soon. I know that it's very painful. Hopefully it's a mild case because they were vaccinated.

[Sgent]

5. Very unusual

and needs to be reported to the local health department.

The vaccine is an attenuated virus (weakened but not dead), but actual shingles is unusual. The doctor maybe willing to prescribe some medication without physically seeing the patient.

Also, try to get in ASAP as some of the antivirals must be started almost immediately to have a better chance of controlling the outbreak.