A vaccine to prevent shingles, a common, painful skin disease is available on the NHS to certain people in their 70s.
The shingles vaccine is given as a single injection into the upper arm. Unlike the flu jab, you’ll only need to have the vaccination once and you can have it at any time of the year.
The shingles vaccine is expected to reduce your risk of getting shingles. If you are unlucky enough to go on to have the disease, your symptoms may be milder and the illness shorter.
Eligible groups are defined by age on 1st September. Vaccination is currently being offered to this group of patients
Date Of Birth Current Age First became or Eligible in 2016/17
will become eligible
02/09/1945 to 01/09/1946 70 2016/17 YES
02/09/1944 to 01/09/1945 71 2015/16 YES
02/09/1943 to 01/09/1944 72 2014/15 YES
02/09/1942 to 01/09/1943 73 2013/14 YES
02/09/1937 to 01/09/1938 78 2016/17 YES
02/09/1936 to 01/09/1937 79 2015/16 YES-
(upto 80th birthday)
