Nearly one million more people will be offered a shingles vaccine from September.

Anyone who is severely immunosuppressed and aged over 50 will be able to get two doses of a new vaccine, the NHS has announced.

Currently the jab is only available to those over the age of 70 but the health service is expanding its offering as it tackles the treatment of ‘preventable’ diseases.

From September 1 those turning 65 and 70 will also be able to get the shingles vaccine after their birthday, in addition to those already aged between 70 and 80.

Patients, says the NHS, will be contacted automatically by their GP practice when they become eligible as medics begin adapting to the new rules.

Eligibility will then be expanded to include those patients aged 60 and over by September 2028 under the new plans.

What is shingles?

Shingles is a virus that can occur at any age but the risk and severity of shingles and its complications increase with age. Those with weakened immune systems are also in greater danger.

Shingles cannot be caught from other people. Instead it is spread by the virus “reawakening” in the body following a chickenpox infection at some point. It is typically reactivated in older age, or by certain medicines, illness or stress.

At least nine in 10 adults, says the NHS, are already infected with the virus that causes shingles, having had chickenpox as children. Around one in four will go on to develop shingles.

The first signs of shingles are likely to be a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin and a feeling of being unwell. A painful rash will then develop a few days later.

In severe infection serious symptoms such as blindness, hearing loss and nerve pain can be experienced. However the vaccine, say medics, can ‘significantly reduce’ the risk of both developing shingles or experiencing nasty symptoms.

The shingles vaccine roll-out is the second immunisation programme to be granted expansion this summer. The NHS has also confirmed more children will be offered protection against flu from September – in the form of the nasal spray.

National director of vaccinations and screening at NHS England Steve Russell said shingles is a preventable illness and it is for this reason the programme is being expanded.

He explained: “While the country has been focused on the NHS’s successful covid and flu vaccine programmes, there remain other preventable illnesses like shingles which can be fatal to those most at risk.

“With a quarter of people getting shingles in their lifetime, and with it being one of the few conditions that cannot achieve herd immunity, the expansion of the programme will provide peace of mind to hundreds of thousands and save lives.”

Getting the jab

Patients will be called forward by their GP when records say they are eligible. Patients may also be given the jab during a routine visit if they happen to be in their surgery for another issue.

For those that are immunocompromised, the gap between the two required doses is from 8 weeks to 6 months. For those that are immunocompetent the gap is likely to be 6 to 12 months.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency said: “A newly available vaccine, Shingrix, is being offered on the NHS from September to those aged 65 and 70 years, and to those with severely weakened immune systems from 50 years of age.

“Two doses of vaccine are highly effective in reducing your risk of getting shingles, or if you do develop shingles, reduce the severity of your symptoms. I strongly urge all those eligible to protect themselves by taking up the offer of a vaccine when they are contacted by their GP.”