What the shingles vaccine is for
Shingles is a common condition that causes a painful rash. It can sometimes lead to serious problems such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness.
You’re more at risk for shingles and more likely to develop serious problems if you have a weakened immune system or are older.
The shingles vaccine helps:
- Reduce the chances of getting shingles
- Reduce your chance of other serious complications if you do get shingles
Who should have the shingles vaccine
The shingles vaccine is recommended for some older adults and people with a severely weakened immune system.
The only reason you cannot have the vaccine is if you have had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine or an ingredient of the vaccine. One of the shingles vaccines, Zostavax, contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus responsible for causing shingles. This will not be suitable if you have a severely weakened immune system; instead, the other one, called Shingrix, will be recommended.
If you have high body temperature or if you generally feel very unwell and this is strong enough to prevent you from carrying out your usual activities, then wait until the condition improves before getting vaccinated.
How to get the shingles vaccine
We’ll generally contact you once you become eligible for the vaccine to prevent shingles. This will usually be in the form of a letter, a text message, a phone call, or an email.
You may be offered the vaccine during a GP appointment you’re attending for another reason at times.
You can usually receive the shingles vaccine at the same time you get other vaccines—for example, against the flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal.
Side effects of the shingles vaccine
The majority of the side effects from the shingle vaccine are minor and improve in 2 or 3 days.
They can include:
- swelling, itching, bruising, or pain in the area of the injection
- a headache
- an aching body
- feeling tired
- a high temperature
- shivering (chills)
More severe side effects, such as a severe allergic reaction, are extremely rare. The person who vaccinates you will be specifically trained to deal with allergic reactions and deal with them on the spot.
