Shingles vaccine
The shingles vaccine helps to protect people from shingles. Find out when the vaccine is given and how it works.
What the shingles vaccine is for
Shingles can be very painful and is more common among older people. The older you are, the worse it can be. For some, the pain caused by shingles can last for many years.
People who have a severely weakened immune system are also at higher risk of:
- getting shingles
- experiencing further complications from shingles
Every year in Scotland, around 400 people aged 70 and over have to get treated in hospital due to shingles and related complications.
The shingles vaccine helps to build up your immunity to the virus. This means, if you do get shingles, your body will fight it off more easily.
Getting the vaccine will:
- reduce your risk of developing shingles by over 70%
- reduce your risk of experiencing long-term pain from shingles
- reduce your risk of having to go to hospital with complications from shingles
Shingles is caused by a virus called varicella zoster. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. When you recover from chickenpox most of this virus is destroyed. However, some of the virus survives and lies inactive in your body’s nervous system.
The virus can then become active again later in life. This normally happens when your immune system has been weakened by:
- age
- stress
- illness
- certain treatments that can reduce your immunity
The shingles vaccine helps to protect you by building up your immunity.
Yes. The chances are that you may have had chickenpox at some point without knowing it. Some people have chickenpox without displaying any of the typical chickenpox symptoms.
Yes. Even if you’ve already had shingles, you should still get it again. The vaccine will reduce your risk of getting shingles again.
Who can get the shingles vaccine
Eligibility for the shingles vaccine depends on what age you were on 1 September 2024, and whether you have an eligible health condition.
You’re currently eligible for the shingles vaccine if you:
- have a severely weakened immune system and are aged 50 or over
- are about to start immunosuppressive therapy and are aged 50 or over
- have received a stem cell transplant in the last 2 years, and are aged 18 or over
- are having or have had CAR-T therapy in the last 2 years, and are aged 18 or over
Currently, you’re not eligible for the shingles vaccine, unless you have an eligible health condition. You’ll become eligible for the shingles vaccine on 1 September after your 65th birthday.
You’re currently eligible for the shingles vaccine. Your local NHS immunisation team will contact you regarding your appointment. This will be from January 2025 onwards. Please wait to be contacted.
If you were invited for your shingles vaccine before, but did not get vaccinated, you’re still eligible for the vaccine. You can make an appointment by contacting your local NHS immunisation team from January 2025 onwards.
Currently, you’re not eligible for the shingles vaccine, unless you have an eligible health condition. You’ll become eligible for the shingles vaccine on 1 September 2027.
Currently, you’re not eligible for the shingles vaccine, unless you have an eligible health condition. You’ll become eligible for the shingles vaccine on 1 September 2026.
Currently, you’re not eligible for the shingles vaccine, unless you have an eligible health condition. You’ll become eligible for the shingles vaccine on 1 September 2025.
You’re currently eligible for the shingles vaccine, and will remain eligible up until your 80th birthday.
If you were aged 70 on 1 September 2024, your local NHS immunisation team will contact you to arrange your appointment. This will be from January 2025 onwards. Please wait to be contacted.
If you were aged 71 to 79 on 1 September 2024, you can arrange an appointment by contacting your local NHS immunisation team from January 2025 onwards.
If you’ve already been invited for the shingles vaccine due to your age but have not yet been vaccinated, you can still get the vaccine until your 80th birthday. Please contact your local NHS immunisation team to make an appointment.
If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, you can use the age eligibility calculator to check.
The age for shingles vaccination has been lowered from 70 to 60. This change is being phased in to deliver the shingles vaccine effectively alongside other immunisation programmes.
This phased roll-out is based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). When any vaccination programme is introduced, recommendations are made about who’ll be offered the vaccine and when they’ll be invited to come forward. These decisions are based on a number of factors, including the risk of the disease and the effectiveness of the vaccine in different age groups.
About the shingles vaccine
Since September 2023, the Shingrix vaccine has been used in Scotland.
You can view the vaccine ingredients in the Shingrix patient information leaflet.
You shouldn’t have the shingles vaccine if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to:
- any of the ingredients in the vaccine
- a previous dose of the chickenpox vaccine
No, the shingles vaccine used in Scotland from September 2023 onwards does not contain pork (porcine) gelatine.
No, the shingles vaccine is not a live vaccine. It cannot cause shingles.
You need to have 2 doses of the shingles vaccine for it to be effective.
You’ll be offered your second dose 2 to 12 months after your first dose.
The shingles vaccination programme was introduced in Scotland in 2013.
All vaccines are tested for safety and the degree to which they prevent a disease. The shingles vaccine meets the high safety standards required for it to be used in the UK and other European countries. The vaccine has been given to millions of people worldwide.
Once they’re in use, the safety of vaccines continues to be monitored.
How to get the shingles vaccine
You’ll be contacted by your local NHS immunisation team when you’re eligible to be immunised. Most immunisation teams will begin inviting patients forward from January onwards.
If you’ve already been invited for the shingles vaccine due to your age but have not yet been vaccinated, you can still get the vaccine until your 80th birthday. Please contact your local NHS immunisation team to make an appointment.
Find out how to contact your local NHS immunisation team regarding your vaccination appointment
Can the shingles vaccine be given at the same time as other vaccines?
Speak to a healthcare professional about getting other vaccines at the same time. They’ll advise what’s best for you.
Side effects of the shingles vaccine
After having the vaccine you may have some side effects. These are usually quite mild and last for about 1 to 3 days.
Around the injection site you might experience:
- pain
- redness
- swelling
You may also experience:
- muscle pain
- tiredness (fatigue)
- chills
- a fever
- a general unwell feeling
- a headache
- nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- stomach pain
Contact your GP practice if:
- you have side effects that last for more than a few days
- your side effects seem to be getting worse
- you have concerns about side effects
Make sure to tell your health professional about your vaccination so they can assess you properly.
You can report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card Scheme.
This can be done by:
- visiting the Yellow Card Scheme website
- phoning the free Yellow Card hotline on 0800 731 6789 (available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Information in other languages and formats
Information leaflets from Public Health Scotland are available in
- British Sign Language (BSL), Audio, Easy Read, and Large Print formats
- English and other languages
You can request another format or language (for example Braille) by emailing phs.otherformats@phs.scot
Printed leaflets
Audio recordings of printed leaflets
BSL videos of printed leaflets
Printed leaflets
Printed leaflets
Printed leaflets
Printed leaflets
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