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Shingles immunisation programme inEngland

The Department of Health introduced the national shingles immunisation programme for people aged 70 to 79 to help protect those age groups who are most at risk from shingles and its complications.

Who can have a freeshingles vaccination?

The national shingles immunisation programme is recommended for people aged 70 to 79, but is being introduced in phases. If you are eligible your GP surgery may contact you and ask you to book an appointment. You can also proactively ask your healthcare professional about the programme if you think you may be eligible.

Vaccination is currently being offered to those who are aged 70, 78 and 79, and to anyone in their seventies who was born after 1st September 1942. People who are in their seventies but are not yet eligible for vaccination, will be offered vaccination in future years under the national programme.

Eligibility calculator
Enter your date of birth below to check if you are eligible for vaccination:

Shingles vaccination within the current national immunisation programme is contraindicated in people with certain medical conditions.

What about people who are not aged70to79?

People under 70 will be eligible for the shingles vaccine from their seventieth birthday. People aged 80 and over are not part of the national programme because the vaccine seems to be less effective in this age group.

Are there any side effects with the vaccination?

Like all vaccines and medicines, vaccines are associated with certain side effects, although not everybody gets them. Further information on this vaccine can be found in the patient information leaflets available at
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6101/pil


You were aged

-

on 1st  September 2018
This means you are currently
not eligible
to receive a free shingles
vaccination as part of the
national programme.
 For more information on the national shingles immunisation programme and eligible patient cohorts for this year,click here.

Please speak to your GP or practice nurse if you require any further advice.
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Reporting of side effects. If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme atwww.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcardor by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines.
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