It is a well known fact that certain traditional risk factors exist for the reactivation of tuberculosis and herpes zoster. In addition to age in particular pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, methotrexate therapy, infliximab therapy etc all could be classical risk factors of these two clinical conditions clinicians encounter in day to day practice in the developing world. Is it worth identifying this vulnerable group and offer chemoprophylaxis / employ vigorous isolation measures would cut down the mortality and economic burden in the developing world until a vaccine is available.