Its more than just mandatory shots that keep me from "placing" my MIL (and we don't even get along!). Please be mindful that if your loved one is going to reside in Assisted Living, they may not have 24-hour nursing on-site, and a nursing assistant/tech may be passing medications. Again, each state is different, so please do your homework and do not assume anything.
The Assisted Living we just took mom to wanted a current seasonal flu shot, a pneumococcal vaccine within ten years and a TB skin test within 30 days. They did not even mentions shingles. This is the NY health dept guideline. Other states may have different rules.
Is Shingles Contagious? Yes, but not in the way you may think. Your shingles rash will not trigger an outbreak of shingles in another person, but it can sometimes cause chickenpox in a child. People who've never had chickenpox, or the vaccine to prevent it, can pick up the virus by direct contact with the open sores of shingles. So keep a shingles rash covered and avoid contact with infants, as well as pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
My mom is allergic to the flu shot. She has also never had shingles or chicken pox. Either has my husband and I. Reading this gives me another reason to be happy we have my mom living at our house - no need to worry about exposure to this stuff.
For my mom in TX NH, they are not required by state law to get any vaccines, however the facility can require that they are current with this season's flu and have a pneumonia done within the past 10 years. Both of my mom;s NH have required both on file to be a resident. Mom's current NH also has a new MRSA protocol that I had to agree to for her resident contract to be renewed. Nothing on shingles.
I would probably call another ALF (assisted living facility) and ask if it is a state requirement. ;) OR you might call your County Health Department and ask if they know...OR you can also call your County Long Term Care Ombudsman and ask if they can find out if this is correct. To find the Ombudsman, contact your County Area Agency on Aging. Each state is different when it comes to such rules.
Yes, but not in the way you may think. Your shingles rash will not trigger an outbreak of shingles in another person, but it can sometimes cause chickenpox in a child. People who've never had chickenpox, or the vaccine to prevent it, can pick up the virus by direct contact with the open sores of shingles. So keep a shingles rash covered and avoid contact with infants, as well as pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
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