Who can have the shingles vaccine?

You are eligible for the shingles vaccine if you are aged 70 or 78 years old.

In addition, anyone who was eligible for immunisation in the previous three years of the programme but missed out on their shingles vaccination remains eligible until their 80th birthday. This includes:

• people in their 70s who were born after 1 September 2024
• people aged 79 years

The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 and over because it seems to be less effective in this age group.

You can have the shingles vaccination at any time of year, though many people will find it convenient to have it at the same time as their annual flu vaccination.

Is there anyone who should not have the shingles vaccination?

You should not have the shingles vaccine if you:

• have a weakened immune system (for example, because of cancer treatment, if you take steroid tablets or if you've had an organ transplant – your doctor will advise whether this applies to you)
• you've had a serious allergic reaction (including an anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of any of the substances in the vaccine, such as neomycin and gelatin – again, your GP can advise you if this applies to you
• you've had a serious allergic reaction (including an anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of the chickenpox vaccine
• have an untreated TB infection

The shingles vaccine and other vaccines

It's safe and may be more convenient for you to have the shingles vaccine at the same time as your flu vaccine in the autumn.

Get answers to some of the most common questions people ask about the shingles vaccine.