The Government have written to Members of Parliament regarding the timing of the shingles vaccination programme in England and to offer reassurance that the Government is committed to protecting those people who are most vulnerable to the complications of shingles through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Until recently the shingles vaccination programme in England offered a vaccine to people aged 70 years and over. However, following the licensing of a new vaccine, the JCVI reassessed the cost-effectiveness of both vaccines and concluded that the offer of this vaccine should be expanded to a larger group of individuals. This recommendation, which included detail of a phased transition to achieve the new routine age of 60 years for the immunocompetent vaccination programme, was accepted by Ministers and in July 2023 the NHS announced its implementation beginning on 1 September 2023.
Individuals at highest risk, all those with severely compromised immune systems (immunocompromised), aged over 50 years, will be offered a vaccine in the first year of the new programme.
All other individuals (immunocompetent), formerly offered the vaccine at aged 70, should be offered the vaccine at 60 years of age. This transition will take place in three stages:
- Stage 1: From September 1st 2023 to August 2028, those who reach the age of 65 during this period should be called on or after their 65th birthday and offered the vaccine. Those who reach the age of 70 during this period will be offered the vaccine at this age, as was previously the case.
- Stage 2: From September 1st 2023 to August 2028, those who reach 60 years of age during this period should be called on or after their 60th birthday and offered the vaccine. Those who reach the age of 65 during this period will continue to be called in on or after their 65th birthday.
- Stage 3: From September 1st 2023, those turning 60 years of age should be called in on or after their 60th birthday.
The Government continues to encourage all those currently eligible to come forward for their vaccination when contacted by their GP. Alternatively further information on the vaccine can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/shingles-vaccination/.