The shingles vaccine is available on the NHS to adults aged 65 to 80 (Image: Getty)
The NHS has confirmed a double vaccination is available for older adults aged between 65 and 80, free of charge.
The vaccine protects against shingles, an infection that causes a painful rash on one side of your body and can take up to four weeks to heal. While most people recover from shingles without any problems, the infection can sometimes lead to more serious complications, including long-lasting pain, scarring, muscle weakness, hearing loss and eye problems that can result in sight loss. Shingles often begins with a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin, a headache, or just generally feeling unwell, and a rash will usually appear a few days later, which can appear anywhere on your body, including on your face and eyes.
Unfortunately, the risk of getting shingles increases as you age or if you have a severely weakened immune system, and the infection is more likely to cause serious problems. So to minimise this risk, the NHS offers a free shingles vaccine to people aged between 65 and 80 to help reduce the risk of getting shingles and lower the chances of developing serious health issues if you get the infection.
As of September 1, 2023, all adults are eligible for the shingles vaccine when they turn 65 and will be offered two doses, which are given between six and 12 months apart.
If you turned 65 before September 1, 2023, you will be eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 70 and will remain eligible up until your 80th birthday.
Confirming the eligibility, the NHS said: “From September 1, 2023, you’re eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 65. You’ll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart.
“Your GP should contact you to make an appointment to have your shingles vaccine. Contact your GP surgery if you think you’re eligible for the shingles vaccine and you’ve not been contacted about it.
“You’ll remain eligible until your 80th birthday (but you can have your 2nd dose up until your 81st birthday). If you turned 65 before September 1, 2023, you’ll be eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 70.
“Everyone aged 70 to 79 is eligible for the shingles vaccine. You’ll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart.
“Contact your GP surgery if you missed your vaccine. You’re eligible up until your 80th birthday (but you can have your 2nd dose up until your 81st birthday).”
It’s possible to get shingles more than once, so the NHS says it’s important to get vaccinated even if you’ve already had the infection before.
Your GP surgery should contact you once you become eligible for the vaccine, and this will usually be via a letter, text message, phone call or email.
If you’re eligible and haven’t yet been contacted, or you didn’t get the vaccine when you were contacted, and you’re still under 80, you should speak to your GP surgery to book or rearrange an appointment.
The NHS says side effects from the vaccine are usually mild and should get better within a few days. Symptoms can include swelling or itchiness around the injection site, a headache, feeling tired, an aching body, a high temperature and chills.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
