What is shingles?
Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox – the varicella-zoster virus. Once you have the virus, it remains in your body, and can become active again in later life where it develops into shingles.
The risk of developing shingles is between 24% and 30% and can occur at any age, but is increased if you are aged 50 years and older.* The risk is also increased when your immune system weakens, which can occur due to increasing age or certain conditions and treatments e.g. cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, advanced or untreated HIV.*
Shingles can be very painful and the older you are, the worse it can be. Although most people fully recover from shingles, some can be left with long-term nerve pain that continues for months or even years after the blisters and rash have healed – this is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The older you are, the higher your chance is, of developing PHN as a result of shingles.
Why get a shingles vaccination?
The vaccine not only helps reduce your risk of developing shingles, but can lessen the severity and duration of any symptoms if you do, as well as cutting your risk of developing PHN.
The shingles vaccine currently recommended in Ireland by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), is a recombinant type vaccine given in two doses.
Studies have shown that four months after two doses of the recombinant vaccine in people with healthy immune systems that its efficacy at preventing shingles was as follows:*
- Aged 50 to 69 years 97%
- Aged 70 to 79 years 90%
- Aged 80 years and older 89%
If you do get shingles, the vaccine can also help reduce the severity of the symptoms and also the risk of developing post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), the long-lasting nerve pain that follows shingles.
What is the cost of the Shingles Vaccination Service?
The cost of the TWO dose Shingles Vaccination Service-Shingrix is €487 (€243.50 per vaccination dose).
The second dose is usually given two months after the first dose.
For further information about the two dose shingles vaccine click here.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
Generally, symptoms range from mild to severe. Shingles starts with some initial pain and tingling, before developing into a rash with blisters that can be itchy, painful and last for about 2-4 weeks. The rash usually only affects the upper body on one side, but can also develop on the head, neck and around the eyes.
Who’s at risk from shingles?
Anyone who’s had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles, as the virus remains in certain nerves of the body and can become active again as time goes on. You may be at greater risk if you:
- Have a weakened immune system
- Are aged over 50
Who is the shingles vaccination suitable for?
The recombinant type shingles vaccine can be given to people aged 50 or over and in addition to people aged 18 to 49 years who are at increased risk of getting shingles e.g. due to weakened immune system. You can get the vaccination year-round. If you’ve had shingles before, you can still have the vaccination, but guidance recommends that it's prudent to wait for one year since you had shingles and it has resolved so that the vaccine can work more effectively.
This recombinant vaccine is also suitable to give to someone who previously received the live attenuated version of shingles vaccine.
Who should NOT get the shingles vaccine?
The shingles vaccine is not recommended in pregnancy. Please speak to your doctor if you are breast-feeding and wish to get the shingles vaccine.
You should not get the shingles vaccine if you have a history of severe allergic reaction to any of the shingles vaccine components.
If you have thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder, talk to your pharmacist as you may not be eligible to get the vaccination in the pharmacy.
If you’re in any doubt, talk to your pharmacist, who can give you more information about the vaccination and advise whether it’s suitable for you.
Side-effects
Occasionally, people develop side-effects after a shingles vaccination but most usually aren’t serious and go away in a few days. See below for the side-effects that can be experienced:
- Very common: headache, stomach and digestive complaints (including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and/or stomach pain), muscle pain (myalgia), pain, redness and swelling where the injection is given, feeling tired, chills, fever
- Common: itching where the injection is given (pruritus), generally feeling unwell
- Uncommon: swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin, joint pain
Additional information
It’s important you remain in store for 15 minutes after your vaccination in case you experience any immediate side-effects.
Sometimes, a severe allergic reaction can occur. Signs include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness and weakness. If this happens, we have procedures in place to deal with this condition.
