Eligible patients urged to have shingles vaccine as fewer than half take up GP offer

Public health officials are urging eligible adults to come forward for shingles vaccination after figures show fewer than half have taken up the offer.

The latest uptake data shows that 42.1% of those turning age 66, who had been eligible since their 65th birthday, had received their first Shingrix dose by October 2025.

For those turning age 71 years, who have been eligible since turning 70, vaccine uptake coverage stands at 53.5%, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported.

Routine shingles vaccination with Zostavax for the over 70s has been in place since 2013 but from 2023 the offer changed to two doses of the non-live vaccine Shingrix for people turning 65 and 70 years or all severely immunosuppressed individuals over 50 years which was lowered to anyone over 18 years in September 2025.

The roll out to all severely immunosuppressed adults follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who found that the risk of hospitalisation from shingles or those resulting in post-herpetic neuralgia was similar in younger immunosuppressed age groups to those who were already eligible. 

NHS England estimated it would mean around 300,000 more people becoming eligible for the vaccine, including people with conditions such as leukaemia or lymphoma or those who are undergoing chemotherapy.

In the year from September 2024, uptake of the first dose was 26.6% in those who turned 65 and 37.4% in those who turned 70 years, the data shows.

During the ten years of the Zostavax programme, coverage of the routine cohort (adults aged 70) declined from 61.8% at the start of the programme to 36.8% at the end.

Coverage is expected to increase over time as individuals have more time to be vaccinated in the year-round programme, the NHS said.

Severely immunosuppressed individuals who have already received 2 doses of Shingrix do not need re-vaccination.

Dr Julie Yates, UKHSA deputy director for immunisation programmes, said many people will know of someone who has had shingles who has said just how painful it was.

‘Shingles can also have debilitating effects for months even after the rash has gone, and we know that two doses of this vaccine is highly effective in preventing shingles and its serious complications.’ 

She urged people not to put off booking an appointment at their GP practice if they had received a message that they were eligible.

‘This is a vaccine that can make a real difference to your quality of life.’

Caroline Temmink, director of vaccinations at NHS England, said: ‘Shingles can be extremely dangerous for older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

‘That’s why the NHS shingles vaccination programme was extended and now includes people turning 65 as well as those in their 70s and anyone aged 18 and over with a severely weakened immune system.’ 

UKHSA added that those aged between 70 and 80 years should already have been offered a shingles vaccine but should catch-up if they have missed out.