 [ Symptoms ] fear of needles for long as i can remember i have not had blood draw in 27 years i can not overcome this fear i have had fear of needles for long as i can remember in my childhood my mother was a hypochondriac and took me to the doctor many times i must have had numerous injections at that time but i have blocked out all memory of that in the last 31 years i have only had a blood draw twice once at age 14 and at age 19 i do not know how i went through it at that time now at age 46 i could not imagine having my blood drawn i understand this is irrational i do not know how to overcome this fear [ Disease ] ok so let is back up a moment and run through what shingles is how it gets transmitted and what effect it has on different groups of people shingles is caused by the varicella virus this is the same virus that causes chickenpox you cannot get shingles unless you have had chickenpox if you have had chickenpox you cannot catch shingles from coming in contact with someone who has shingles however people who never had chickenpox and have not been vaccinated for it can get chickenpox by coming into contact with the active weeping blisters of someone with shingles once the blisters crust over they are generally considered to be non infectious it is uncommon for people to develop chickenpox from exposure to shingles under any circumstances and i would think it nearly impossible under the circumstances you describe i can understand why you feel the need to take serious precautions but i think your loved ones can rest easy i doubt you could carry the shingles virus to them especially from indirect contact with someone whose rash is at least two weeks old wishing you well