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.
1 in 5 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”.
