Is shingles contagious?

Yes: Its a reactivation of the chicken pox virus. Until all the vesicles have crusted over, you can give it to anyone who hasn't had chicken pox or the vaccine. Avoid exposure to young kids, pegnant, elderly, frail, or folks with lowered immune systems.

Virus: Coming in contact with a Shingles rash/blister can infect someone who doesn’t have immunity to chickenpox. That person could develop chicken pox (not shingles)

Yes and no: It can chickenpox to someone who is not immune. The chickenpox reactives as shingles later. Best wishes.

Zoster: a/k/a zoster, it is an infection caused by the chickenpox virus and causes a painful rash and blisters. Initial exposure to the virus causes chickenpox (fever, malaise, rash) and it eventually becomes dormant in the nerve system. it might get reactivated and cause these painful rash/blisters. If you have no immunity to chickenpox, direct contact with open sores can lead to chickenpox.