Around 300,000 more people will become eligible for a
potentially lifesaving shingles vaccination from next week, as GP
practices roll out the jab to protect all severely
immunosuppressed adults.
People newly eligible for the shingles vaccination from Monday 1
September are those aged 18 to 49 who have a severely weakened
immune system. They will be able to book an appointment for the
vaccine with their GP surgery, with practices starting to contact
people over the coming weeks.
This includes 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.
The NHS has previously expanded the shingles vaccination
programme to include all over 50s with a severely weakened immune
system.
Patient organisations welcome the latest expansion that will
see thousands more at risk people protected.
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster
virus (which causes chickenpox) and usually occurs decades after
initial infection. The condition causes a painful rash and
typically lasts between 2 and 4 weeks.
One in five people will go on to develop shingles in their
lifetime and although most people make a full recovery, it
can cause serious problems including persistent pain known as
post-herpetic neuralgia, eye problems, and even lead to
pneumonia, hepatitis and inflammation of the brain.
Individuals who are severely immunosuppressed are most at risk of
serious illness and complications from shingles.
The vaccine, Shingrix®, is currently available to people aged 65
to 79 and severely immunosuppressed individuals from 50 years of
age, but eligibility is set to change from next week to include
all severely immunosuppressed adults aged 18 years and
over.
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.
Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and
community services at NHS England, 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.
“The vaccine is safe and effective and significantly reduces the
chance of developing shingles and becoming seriously unwell, so
I'd urge anyone newly eligible to come forward for their
protection as soon as possible.
“The NHS will be contacting you to let you know you are eligible,
but you can also make a booking through your local GP – and even
if you've had shingles before, you can develop it again so please
still come forward for the offer.”
Health Minister 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.
“I encourage all those eligible for the vaccine to come forward
for their jab."
Severely immunosuppressed people will be offered two doses of the
non-live shingles vaccine, Shingrix®, with the second dose given
8 weeks to 6 months after the first dose.
A JCVI report estimates that prior
to the introduction of a shingles vaccination programme in 2013,
there were over 4,500 hospital admissions per year due to
shingles, most of which could have been prevented through
vaccination.
Within the first three years of the vaccination programme, there
were an estimated 17,000 fewer episodes of shingles and 3,300
fewer episodes of post-herpetic neuralgia among the eligible
population.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation
at the UK Health Security Agency: “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.
“Shingles can be a nasty, painful disease, so I strongly
recommend you have the vaccine, given as two doses, as soon as
you become eligible, and if you are unsure, please do check with
your GP surgery.”
NHS 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.
Susan Walsh, CEO of Immunodeficiency UK,
said: “We welcome the widening of the age
eligibility criteria for the shingles vaccination programme for
immunosuppressed individuals. It means that people most at risk
will be able to have protection against the worst effects of
having shingles and will help reduce the risk of being
hospitalised from its complications. We are encouraging everyone
eligible to take up the offer.”
