I have recently had shingles. Can I donate?

Yes, as long as you’re feeling well and the rash is completely clean and dry, you can donate plasma straight away. In fact, the plasma you donate after you recover is full of valuable antibodies (proteins that your body makes to fight infections) that can be used to help people at risk of shingles or chicken pox.  

After four weeks, you can give blood, too.  

If you’ve had contact with someone who has shingles while they’re infectious, you’ll need to wait three weeks after the contact before you donate.