Millions urged to get new jab as NHS rolls out shingles vaccine to protect vulnerable adults

Millions of people across Britain are being encouraged to take up a new NHS vaccine scheme launching this Monday, which will offer protection against shingles to those most at risk.

From September 1, around 300,000 adults who are severely immunosuppressed will become eligible for the shingles vaccine. GP surgeries will begin administering the jab in the coming weeks, with health practitioners also contacting patients directly to arrange appointments.

Announcing the expansion on X, the NHS wrote: “From 1 September, all severely immunosuppressed adults aged 18 years and over will be able to get the shingles vaccine from their GP. The vaccine significantly reduces the chance of developing shingles – protecting thousands more people most at risk.”

The change means adults aged 18 to 49 with conditions that leave their immune system severely weakened will now be able to book a jab through their GP, Mirror reported. This includes people with illnesses such as leukaemia or lymphoma, or those undergoing chemotherapy. Until now, the vaccine, known as Shingrix, has only been available to people aged 65 to 79 and to immunosuppressed adults from age 50.

Patient groups have welcomed the move, which follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The committee highlighted that younger adults with severely weakened immune systems face similar risks of hospitalisation and complications from shingles as older groups already eligible.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It often appears decades after the initial infection and can trigger a painful rash lasting two to four weeks.

One in five people will develop shingles in their lifetime, and while many recover fully, it can lead to serious long-term issues such as post-herpetic neuralgia, eye damage, pneumonia, hepatitis, or inflammation of the brain. Those with compromised immune systems face the greatest risk of severe illness.

Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said: “Shingles can be seriously debilitating for older people and those with a severely weakened immune system, so following the latest expert guidance, the NHS is now expanding the potentially lifesaving jab to all severely immunosuppressed adults.

The vaccine is safe and effective and significantly reduces the chance of developing shingles and becoming seriously unwell, so I’d urge anyone newly eligible to come forward for their protection as soon as possible.”

Health Minister Ashley Dalton backed the call, adding: “Expanding shingles vaccination will protect even more people at greatest risk from this painful condition. This government is committed to preventive healthcare and ensuring those who are most vulnerable receive the protection they need.”

Eligible patients will be given two doses of the non-live vaccine, with the second dose offered between eight weeks and six months after the first. NHS officials confirmed the jab can also be administered alongside other routine and seasonal vaccines, including flu and COVID-19.

Before the shingles vaccination programme was introduced in 2013, there were over 4,500 hospital admissions a year linked to shingles, most of which experts believe could have been prevented. In its first three years alone, the rollout led to an estimated 17,000 fewer cases of shingles and more than 3,000 fewer cases of post-herpetic neuralgia.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, warned of the dangers of underestimating the illness. “Shingles can be a very painful infection and may cause complications that lead to hospitalisation,” she said.

“It can affect people at any age, but the risk and severity of shingles increase with age. Following a review of the evidence, it was found that younger adults who are severely immunosuppressed are also at higher risk, and from September the program will now be expanded to include this group.”

She urged patients not to delay: “Shingles can be a nasty, painful disease, so I strongly recommend you have the vaccine, given as two doses, as soon as you become eligible – and if you are unsure, please check with your GP.”