GP practices to offer shingles vaccine to all immunosuppressed adults from next week

GP practices will offer the shingles vaccine to all severely immunosuppressed adults from next week, following an expansion of the programme.

On Monday, based on the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme will change to allow all severely immunosuppressed people aged 18 years and over to receive the vaccine.

NHS England said that services were contacted about the expansion in July to ‘ensure that they are ready to roll out the vaccine’ from September, and Shingrix can be given alongside other seasonal and routine vaccines, including flu and Covid-19.

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.

NHSE said that the expansion means that around 300,000 more people will become eligible for the vaccine from next week, including people with conditions such as leukaemia or lymphoma or those who are undergoing chemotherapy, which put them at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell if they contract shingles.

NHS England director for primary care Dr Amanda Doyle 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.’

Health minister Ashley Dalton said: ‘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.’

UKHSA deputy director of immunization Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam said: ‘Shingles can be a very painful infection and may cause complications that lead to hospitalisation.

‘It can affect people at any age, but the risk and severity of shingles increases with age. However, following a review of the evidence, it was found that younger adults who are severely immunosuppressed are also at higher risk of severe illness and hospitalisation, and from September the shingles vaccine programme will now be expanded to include this group who are aged 18 and over.

‘The NHS will continue a phased roll out of the vaccine for older people and your GP should be in touch once you become eligible, currently when you reach 65 or 70 years.’

Earlier this year, researchers uncovered the strongest evidence yet that shingles vaccination reduces the risk of dementia, after tracking older adults in Wales.