Flu and Shingles

Flu Vaccinations

Watch this space! Flu season and vaccinations will commence from September 2018 onwards.

Shingles eligibility as of April 2018

The Shingles vaccine will be available (stocks depending) to:

• patients aged 70 years, on or after their 70th birthday

• patients aged 78 years, on or after their 78th birthday

• patients who were eligible for immunisation in the previous programme years but have not yet been vaccinated against shingles. These are:

  • anyone in their 70s who was born on or after 2/9/1942

  • 79 year olds (until their 80th birthday)

After your 80^th birthday, you are no longer eligible due to the reducing efficacy of the vaccine as age increases.

The vaccine contains live herpes zoster virus and should not be given to certain patient groups, such as those who are immunocompromised. Due to the complex clinical exclusion criteria for this vaccine, you may be told at your appointment that you are not able to have the vaccine.

Patients remain eligible until their 80th birthday due to the reducing efficacy of the vaccine as age increases2.