Routine Shingles Vaccination

Routine Shingles Vaccination

Shingles and the Shingles Vaccine

What is Shingles?

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which most people contracted in childhood. This reactivation leads to a painful nerve and skin condition.

Shingles Risks:

• Can occur at any age.
• Risk and severity increase with age.
• Significantly higher risk in individuals with severely weakened immune systems.
• 1 in 4 adults will develop shingles.
• In those over 70, around 1 in 1,000 shingles cases results in death.

Benefits of 2 Doses of Shingles Vaccination:

• Over 70% effective in reducing shingles risk.
• Milder symptoms if shingles occurs.
• Lower risk of hospitalisation.
• Reduced risk of developing long-term pain.

Vaccine Eligibility:

• People aged 65, 66 or 67 on 01 September 2025.
• People aged 70 or over on 01 September 2025 until their 80th birthday.
• People aged 18 or over with a severely weakened immune system.
• People aged 18 or over who have received a stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy within the last 2 years.
• People who are about to start immunosuppressive therapy and are aged 18 or over and whose doctor has advised them they should receive the shingles vaccine.

If you have recently had a stem cell transplant, you must wait 6 months before taking the shingles vaccine.

People who are aged 18 or over who have previously received the Zostavax shingles vaccine and have since been identified as having a severely weakened immune system will now be invited for a further two doses of the recommended Shingrix shingles vaccine. This will offer you the best level of protection and further reduce the risk of developing shingles.

NHS Lothian will contact those eligible for the shingles vaccination.

For more information about shingles or the shingles vaccine, visit NHS Inform.

Download the Shingles Vaccine Information Leaflet