DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing to get your opinion on whether I should get the shingles vaccine. My sister and I somehow managed to avoid contracting chicken pox as children. My sister came down with chicken pox as an adult when she caught the virus from her daughter, and it was nasty. I was given two doses of the chicken pox vaccine at age 40 after my son pushed me to pursue my doctor’s advice.

I’m now 60 and trying to determine whether I need the shingles vaccine since I never actually had the chicken pox virus. Can I actually contract shingles at this point if I’ve never had the virus, only the vaccine? -- J.A.

ANSWER: Yes, you can develop shingles. The only chicken pox vaccine licensed is a live, weakened strain of the chicken pox. It is less likely to lead to shingles than the live, s

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