The aim of the routine shingles (herpes zoster) vaccination programme is to prevent severe morbidity from shingles in groups at the highest risk.
A routine shingles vaccination programme began on 1 September 2013, offering one dose of the shingles vaccine (Zostavax) to all 70 year olds, together with a catch-up programme for older cohorts.
Adults became eligible at 70 years of age and remained eligible until their 80th birthday.
From September 2021, these two programmes ceased, being replaced by a new shingles recombinant sub-unit vaccine (Shingrix) was added to the programme to increase protection against shingles (herpes zoster) amongst eligible cohorts unable to have the live Zostavax shingles vaccine due to immunosuppression or/and contraindication.
From 1 September 2023, these two programmes ceased, being replaced with a new programme offering two doses of Shingrix vaccine to:
- immunocompetent individuals turning 65 and 70 years of age, and
- all severely immunosuppressed individuals (eligibility as defined in the (Green Book Shingles chapter 28a) from 50 years of age
Immunocompetent individuals will remain eligible for the Shingrix vaccine until their 80th birthday and vaccines will be offered in a phased implementation over a 10-year period. For full details on eligibility and the phased programme, see information for healthcare practitioners here.