Shingles: Vaccination

(asked on 27th February 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the reasons are for age restrictions on eligibility for the shingles vaccination in the NHS; and whether he has made an assessment of the availability of alternative provision for people who do not qualify for that vaccination.


This question was answered on 2nd March 2017

The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation recommended shingles vaccination for adults aged 70 years up to and including 79 years. Shingles immunisation is currently offered to people aged 70 – 73 and 78 – 79 based on their age on 1 September 2016. Eligibility will be extended in the future to all those aged 70 – 79. The rate of the further extension of eligibility is determined by annual negotiations between the Department and NHS England taking into account factors such as the capability of the National Health Service to provide the additional immunisations, and the overall affordability of doing so.

Medical professionals are able to apply their clinical discretion and offer immunisation to anyone aged over 50 years who is not currently eligible but could benefit clinically, for example those with underlying health issues putting them at increased risk of shingles. Shingles immunisation is also available privately from a number of high street pharmacists and other providers.

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