Shingles Vaccine

The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. It's recommended for all adults turning 65, those aged 70 to 79 and those aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system.

Speak to your GP if:

  • you think you're eligible for the shingles vaccine, but you've not been contacted
  • you did not have the vaccine when you were contacted and you're still under 80 (only people with a severely weakened immune system can get the vaccine after 80 years of age)
  • you've had the shingles vaccine before but you now have a severely weakened immune system (you may need to have the shingles vaccine again)
  • you're due to have your vaccine and you're feeling unwell – you may need to wait until you're feeling better before having the vaccine
  • you need to change your vaccination appointment

Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus as chickenpox. Most of the virus is destroyed when you recover from chickenpox but some of the virus survives and remains dormant in your body’s nervous system. This can become active later in life causing shingles.

Shingles symptoms include a tingling feeling on your skin, feeling generally unwell and a developing a painful rash, that usually forms on one side of your body, and lasts up to 4 weeks. In rare cases it can lead to serious problems such as hearing loss or blindness. Shingles is more common among older people, but younger people can also be affected.

 

The shingles vaccine is recommended for some older adults and people with a severely weakened immune system including:

  • People who turn 65 on or after 1 September 2023
  • People aged 70 to 79
  • People aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system

Click here for more information Shingles vaccine - NHS

 

Shingles can be very painful and this can become worse as you get older. For some, the pain can last for many months or even years. The shingles vaccine helps reduce your chances of getting shingles and reduce your chances of getting serious problems if you do get shingles.

 

Yes, you can get shingles more than once. Having the vaccine helps reduce your risk of getting shingles again.

 

Yes. You could have had the chickenpox virus at some point but without knowing.

Some people have chickenpox without any of the typical chickenpox symptoms.

 

Most people do not experience any, or only mild side effects after having the vaccine. Side effects mean the vaccine is teaching your body’s immune system how  to protect itself from the disease. The most common side effects might include:

  • a sore arm
  • slight fever
  • chills
  • fatigue

This can usually be managed by taking paracetamol. A member of staff will discuss this with you at your appointment.

Contact your GP practice if you have side effects that last for more than a few days.

You can get the shingles vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine.

Pneumococcal vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis. It's recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over.

Speak to your GP practice if:

  • you have not been contacted to get the pneumococcal vaccine, but you think you or your child are eligible
  • you or your child have missed your pneumococcal vaccinations, or you're not sure if you've been vaccinated
  • you or your child are unwell – you may need to wait until you're feeling better before having the vaccine
  • you need to change a vaccination appointment

Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pneumococcal infections are caused by pneumococcal bacteria in the nose or throat. Pneumococcal bacteria can cause serious illnesses like pneumonia, bacterial meningitis and can lead to invasive pneumococcal disease, which is when the bacteria are found inside a major organ or the blood. They can also cause other conditions like severe ear infections.

 

Some of the symptoms of pneumococcal infection can include:

Fever, headache, vomiting, blotchy rash that doesn’t fade, a stiff neck, sensitivity to bright lights, a lack of energy, hearing loss, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing.

The chance of you becoming unwell with pneumococcal infection increases if you’re aged 65 years or over or have an underlying health condition.

 

  • ​​​Babies - 1st dose at 12 weeks and a booster dose at 1 year
  • People aged 65 and over - 1 dose when you're 65
  • Children and adults at higher risk of getting seriously ill - At least 1 dose (some people may need extra doses or regular doses)

The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for babies, older people, and people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from pneumococcal infections.

 

Yes. Developing a pneumococcal disease once doesn’t protect you for getting it again or another type of infection which might be more serious. Having the vaccine helps reduce your risk of infection.

Yes. A pneumococcal infection can affect anyone at any age.

 

Like all medicines, the pneumococcal vaccine can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them.

The most common side effects of the pneumococcal vaccine include:

  • swelling or pain where the injection was given
  • a high temperature
  • feeling tired
  • loss of appetite
  • Babies and children may also feel a bit unwell and irritable.

You can give them child's paracetamol or child's ibuprofen to ease any symptoms.

Check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure.

 

You can get the pneumococcal vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine.

General Information

It is possible to have shingles or a pneumococcal infection after having the vaccines but it is likely to be less serious. The vaccinations can take up to 10 days for your body to build up extra protection.

Most people who are eligible for the vaccines can have it. You only cannot have the vaccine if you've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine, or an ingredient in the vaccine.

Vaccinations are given as an injection in the upper arm.

If you feel too unwell to do normal activities, or have a high temperature, wait until you’re feeling better.