Routine Shingles Vaccination Routine Shingles Vaccination Booking Information Routine Shingles Vaccination Shingles and the Shingles Vaccine What is Shingles? Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which most people contracted in childhood. This reactivation leads to a painful nerve and skin condition. Shingles Risks: Can occur at any age. Risk and severity increase with age. Significantly higher risk in individuals with severely weakened immune systems. 1 in 4 adults will develop shingles. In those over 70, around 1 in 1,000 shingles cases result in death. Benefits of 2 Doses of Shingles Vaccination: Over 70% effective in reducing shingles risk. Milder symptoms if shingles occurs. Lower risk of hospitalisation. Reduced risk of developing long-term pain. Vaccine Eligibility: People aged 65, 66 or 67 on 01 September 2025. People aged 70 or over on 01 September 2025 until their 80th birthday. People aged 18 or over with a severely weakened immune system. People who are about to start immunosuppressive therapy. People aged 18 or over who have received a stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy within the last 2 years. If you have recently had a stem cell transplant, you must wait 6 months before taking the shingles vaccine. People who are aged 18 or over who have previously received the Zostavax Shingles Vaccine and have since been identified as having a severely weakened immune system will now be invited for a further two doses of the recommended Shingrix shingles vaccine. This will offer you the best level of protection and further reduce the risk of developing shingles. NHS Lothian will contact those eligible for the shingles vaccination. For more information about shingles or the shingles vaccine, visit NHS Inform. Booking Information Accessing Shingles Vaccination Over the winter, vaccination teams are focused on the delivery of the seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme. Routine invitations for shingles vaccinations are currently deprioritised to allow NHS Lothian vaccination teams to administer the current programme. When the COVID-19 and flu programme reaches its conclusion (likely in early 2026), routine patient invitations for the shingles vaccine will recommence for eligible patients. Patients will be called forward in the order of clinical priority. During the winter, some patients can have shingles bookings arranged via a referral if they are under the care of a hospital consultant and have anticipated immunosuppression or if there are specific scheduling concerns, for example, those who require revaccination following cancer treatment or people who require vaccination following a stem cell transplant. Patients should speak to their consultant for a referral.
