Shingles vaccine

Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Unlike other infectious diseases, you cannot catch shingles from someone else – not even from someone who has chickenpox.

Most people get chickenpox when they are young. The virus that causes chickenpox can stay in your body for the rest of your life without you knowing it is there. However, it can become active again later in life. It is not clear why this happens, but it’s often linked to a weakened immune system caused by ageing, illness, stress or medication.

Shingles often starts with some tingling and pain in one area, along with a headache and tiredness. This is usually followed by a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters a few days later. The rash usually affects an area on just one side of the body (usually the chest, but sometimes the head, face or eye).

When shingles affects the eye, or the skin around the eye, it can cause severe pain and eye problems, which can lead to sight loss.Read more about the symptoms of Shingles.

Vaccine experts have advised that the shingles vaccine should be offered to people aged 60 and over. It will be carried out in phases over 10 years.

They have also advised that the vaccine is offered to people aged 18 and over who have very weakened immune systems. 

Public Health Wales has further information about the shingles vaccine including a table showing who is eligible for a shingles vaccine from August 2025. 

Last Updated: 17/02/2022 16:07:44
The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by NHS website nhs.uk