PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Shingles: Vaccination (5 January 2018)

The shingles vaccination programme is for the vaccination of patients who become eligible for the vaccine from their 70th and 78th birthdays and remain eligible for vaccination (if not previously vaccinated) until their 80th birthday. Vaccination can be offered to those patients who are eligible for the vaccine on an opportunistic basis.

Public Health England provides communication materials to both patients and healthcare professionals to better illustrate eligible cohorts. This includes guidance for those in age groups with previous eligibility who have missed the opportunity to receive the vaccine, up to their 80th birthday. Guidance is available to view here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/shingles-vaccination-programme

NHS England has a focus on reducing variation in all Section 7a immunisation programmes and works with local teams to seek assurance that low uptake and variation are addressed, and to identify good practice that can be shared.