What is shingles?
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus) in people who have previously had chickenpox. Residents in Lewes need to consider the availability of the shingles vaccine for prevention.
It begins with a burning sensation in the skin, followed by a rash of very painful fluid-filled blisters that can then burst and turn into sores before healing. Often an area on just one side of the body is affected, usually the chest but sometimes the head, face and eye.
Read more about the symptoms of shingles.
Shingles vaccine overview
A vaccine to prevent shingles, a common, painful skin disease, is available on the NHS to people in their 70s.
The shingles vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm. Unlike the flu vaccine, you’ll only need to have the vaccination once and you can have it at any time of the year.
Most people will only need 1 dose, but some people who cannot have the routine vaccine for health reasons will need 2 doses.
The shingles vaccine is expected to reduce your risk of getting shingles. If you do go on to have the disease, your symptoms may be milder and the illness shorter.
Shingles can be very painful and uncomfortable. Some people are left with pain lasting for years after the initial rash has healed. Shingles can also be fatal for around 1 in 1,000 over-70s who develop it.
It’s fine to have the shingles vaccine if you’ve already had shingles. The shingles vaccine works very well in people who have had shingles before, and it will boost your immunity against further shingles attacks. Your GP will tell you how long to wait after you recover from shingles before having the shingles vaccine. This may be up to 1 year.
Who’s most at risk of shingles?
People tend to get shingles more often as they get older, especially over the age of 70. And the older you are, the worse it can be. The shingles rash can be extremely painful, such that sufferers cannot even bear the feeling of their clothes touching the affected skin.
The pain of shingles can also linger long after the rash has disappeared, even for many years. This lingering pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Read more about vaccination against shingles on GOV.UK
How long will the shingles vaccine protect me?
It’s difficult to be precise, but research suggests the shingles vaccine will protect you for at least 5 years, probably longer.
How safe is the shingles vaccine?
There is a lot of evidence showing that the shingles vaccine is very safe. Both types of vaccine have already been used in several countries, including the US and Canada, and no safety concerns have been raised. The vaccine also has few side effects.
Who can have the shingles vaccination?
You’re eligible for the shingles vaccine if you are aged 70 to 79.
The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 or over because it seems to be less effective in this age group.
Get in touch with our team if you have any questions.