From 1st September 2025, more people will be able to get the Shingrix shingles vaccine on the NHS. This includes anyone aged 18 or older (with no upper age limit) who has a weakened immune system. Until now, it was only given to people with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised) who were aged 50 or over. You can read the announcement here.
This change was made because research showed that younger people with weakened immune systems can also get very unwell from shingles and could be protected effectively by the vaccine.
What is shingles?
Shingles is a disease which affects your nerves and skin, causing mild to severe pain, an itchy rash with blisters, and sometimes other symptoms such as tingling, headaches, and a high temperature. Symptoms usually improve in 2-4 weeks. However, shingles can cause serious complications, which are more likely in people who are elderly or immunocompromised. Complications include eye problems, hearing loss, and lasting pain the area shingles affected (called “postherpetic neuralgia” or PHN).
There is no cure for shingles, and treatment is usually designed to help with symptoms, such as pain relief. Shingles mainly affects people who are over 50 years old.
How does shingles spread?
You cannot catch shingles. When you have chickenpox, the virus stays in your body. Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus being active again.
If you have shingles, people who have not had chickenpox before could catch chickenpox from you. The fluid in shingles blisters contains the same virus that causes chickenpox. If someone who hasn’t had chickenpox (or isn’t protected against it) touches this fluid, they could get chickenpox. If you have shingles, keep the rash covered with loose clothing to lower the chance of passing chickenpox to others. If you have shingles you should avoid people who have a weakened immune system or are pregnant, and babies who are less than a month old.
Why should I get the shingles vaccine?
The vaccine reduces your chances of getting shingles and the complications of shingles. If you still get shingles after having the vaccine, the symptoms will be reduced.
Because you cannot catch shingles, the vaccine only protects the person who gets the vaccine and there is no community protection. This means the way you can best protect yourself is by getting both doses of the vaccine.
What is the Shingrix vaccine?
The Shingrix vaccine helps protect against shingles and the problems it can cause.
It is:
- Not a live vaccine (it doesn’t contain live virus, called an “inactivated vaccine”, so it’s safer for people with weakened immune systems)
- Given in 2 doses:
- If you have a weakened immune system: doses are 8 weeks to 6 months apart
- If you don’t have a weakened immune system: doses are 6 months to 12 months apart
If you’ve already had 2 doses of Shingrix, you don’t need any more.
The Shingrix vaccine has replaced the Zostavax vaccine which used to be given for shingles protection. Zostavax provided effective protection, but it wasn’t suitable for people with weakened immune systems.
Who can get the shingles vaccine from September 2025?
You can get the shingles vaccine if you:
- Are aged 18 or older and have a weakened immune system (“immunocompromised”)
- Are aged 70-79
- If you are 60 to 70 years old you can get the vaccine when you reach your 65th or 70th birthday.
If you are not immunocompromised, you’ll remain eligible until your 80th birthday. If you are not sure if you are the right age, you can use NHS Scotland’s calculator for age eligibility here.
For this vaccine, the definition of “immunocompromised” includes:
- People on immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapy including:
- Those who are receiving (or have received in the last 3 months) targeted therapy for autoimmune disease, such as JAK inhibitors or biologics such as B-cell targeted therapies (including rituximab for which there is a longer period of the past 6 months)
- Those who are receiving, or have received in the past 6 months, immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Those who are receiving, or have received in the past 6 months, immunosuppressive therapy for a solid organ transplant
- For this vaccine, the definition of “immunocompromised” includes:
- People on immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapy including:
- Those who are receiving (or have received in the last 3 months) targeted therapy for autoimmune disease, such as JAK inhibitors or biologics such as B-cell targeted therapies (including rituximab for which there is a longer period of the past 6 months)
- Those who are receiving, or have received in the past 6 months, immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Those who are receiving, or have received in the past 6 months, immunosuppressive therapy for a solid organ transplant
- People on immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapy including:
- People with chronic immune mediated inflammatory disease who are receiving, or who have received, immunosuppressive therapy, including:
- Moderate to high dose corticosteroids (equivalent to 20mg+ prednisolone per day) for more than 10 days in the past month
- Long-term moderate does corticosteroids (equivalent to 10mg+ prednisolone per day for more than 4 weeks) in the past 3 months
- Any non-biological oral immune modulating drugs in the past 3 months. Eligible doses include more than 20mg of methotrexate per week, more than 3mg/kg/day of azathioprine, more than 1.5mg/kg/day of 6-mercaptopurine, more than 1g/day of mycophenolate.
- Certain combination therapies at individual doses lower than stated above, including those on more than 7.5g of prednisolone per day in combination with other immunosuppressants (other than hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine), and those receiving methotrexate (any dose) with leflunomide
- People who have been on a short course of high dose steroids (equivalent to more than 40g of prednisolone per day for more than a week) in the past month.
- People with primary or acquired immunodeficiency states due to conditions including acute and chronic leukaemia’s and functional lymphocyte disorder.
You can read the full list of people who are eligible on page 6 of the vaccine green book.
What if I already had a different shingles vaccine?
Some people were given another vaccine called Zostavax in the past.
- If you had Zostavax and then became immunocompromised, you should still get 2 doses of Shingrix for better protection.
- If you had Zostavax and are not immunocompromised, you are considered protected against shingles
- If you have already had 2 doses of Shingrix, you don’t need any more.
How do I get the vaccine?
You will usually be invited by your GP if you’re eligible.
If you don’t get an invite but think you should, contact your GP practice.
Will I need a booster dose?
There is currently no booster dose of the shingles vaccine. After having two doses of Shingrix or one dose of Zostavax you are considered to be protected against shingles.
Can I get it with other vaccines?
Yes. You can get the Shingrix vaccine at the same time as:
- COVID-19 vaccines
- Inactivated Flu vaccines
- Pneumococcal vaccines (PPV)
Ideally, there should be a 7-day gap between getting the shingles and the aQIV flu vaccine, which is licensed for use in the over 65s. There may need to be a small gap between some vaccines, so ask your doctor or nurse.
Who should not have the shingles vaccine?
You should not have the vaccine if you have had a severe reaction to any of the vaccine’s ingredients. You can see the full list of ingredients in the Shingrix patient information leaflet here. Speak to your doctor if you’re not sure if you should have the shingles vaccine.
If I haven’t had chickenpox, should I get the shingles vaccine?
Yes. Some people have had chickenpox without realising because they didn’t have rash.
Can I have the vaccine if I have already had shingles?
Yes, but you should talk to your GP to see how long you should wait before having the vaccine to make sure you are fully recovered. The vaccine may help to boost your immunity against further shingles attacks.
Why aren’t all adults offered it?
The government decides who can get vaccines based on:
- How well the vaccine works in different age groups
- How serious the illness is
- How much the vaccine costs
- How many people it helps
Based on the evidence for the shingles vaccine, the JCVI decided that it would be most cost-effective in adults who are immunocompromised aged 18 and older, and in adults who are not immunocompromised aged 60 to 79.
What should I do now?
If you’re 18 or over and have a weakened immune system, you can get the shingles vaccine from September 2025.
- Ask your doctor or specialist if you’re eligible
- Look out for an invite from your GP
- Book both doses for full protection