Expansion of shingles vaccine eligibility
Posted on August 18th, 2025
On 1 September 2025, based on the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme will change to include all severely immunosuppressed people aged 18 years and over. This is an expansion of the current severely immunosuppressed cohort of 50+ years.
| For guidance on patients who are eligible, please see below. Who should have the shingles vaccine? People who turn 65 on or after the 01 September 2023. - You’ll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart
- 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 1 September 2023, you’ll be eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 70.
People aged 70-79. - 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).
People aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system (from 01 September 2025, this will expand to include people aged 18 and over). This will include: - Some people with blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma).
- Some people with HIV or AIDS.
- Some people who’ve recently had a stem cell transplant, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or an organ transplant.
- People taking certain medicines that severely weaken the immune system.
- You’ll be given 2 doses of the shingles vaccine. These are given between 8 weeks and 6 months apart.
The practice will invite patients who are eligible by SMS, telephone or letter. |