Shingles vaccination factsheet for healthcare professionals

Shingles is a common disease that can cause long-lasting, severe pain. It can cause permanent disability, and it occurs more frequently in those over 70 years old, who are also more likely to have worse symptoms It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox – varicella zoster. A universal routine herpes zoster (shingles) vaccination programme for adults aged over 70 years will start in September 2013. The aim of the universal vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of shingles disease in older people.