Once you’ve had chickenpox, that virus never leaves your body; it simply lies dormant, waiting for an opportunity to reactivate later in life.
When it does, it reappears as shingles, a painful, blistering rash that can lead to months (or even years) of nerve pain known as postherpetic neuralgia.
As a sufferer from shingles I can confirm that it is a nasty, painful condition. And it was my struggles to try to understand the NHS rules that prompted me to research and write this blogpost and to eventually fund my own shingles vaccination.
The NHS Rules: A Maze of Eligibility
In theory, the NHS offers a free shingles vaccination to protect people from this debilitating illness. In practice, the rules about who qualifies and when they qualify are bafflingly complex.
Under current NHS guidelines in England, the free shingles vaccine is available to people aged 70 to 79, and now also those turning 65 on or after 1 September 2023. But if you’re 66, 67, 68 or 69, you’re expected to wait, even though your risk of shingles doesn’t magically disappear until the NHS sends an invite.
Worse still, these rules vary across the UK. In Scotland and Wales, eligibility criteria differ again. The result? Many people who would benefit from the vaccine find themselves excluded simply because of their birth date or postcode.
It’s a frustrating situation, and it leaves a huge number of adults in their 50s and 60s without protection, despite shingles being most common in older adults and those with weakened immune systems.
Why Paying for the Vaccine Is Worth It
If you’re not eligible for a free NHS jab, it’s well worth paying privately. Pharmacies such as Boots, Lloyds, and Superdrug offer the Shingrix vaccine, which provides excellent long-term protection and can be administered in two doses a few months apart.
Here’s why it’s worth considering, even out of pocket:
Avoid excruciating pain: Shingles can be intensely painful, often described as burning or stabbing.
Prevent complications: The condition can cause scarring, nerve damage, vision loss (if it affects the eyes), and in rare cases, serious neurological problems.
Reduce time off work or daily disruption: Shingles can leave sufferers exhausted and unable to function for weeks. My late father was so ill with shingles that his doctor ordered him to take bedrest for a week.
Protect your long-term health: The older you get, the more severe shingles tends to be, so prevention is key.
The cost of the vaccine privately is typically around £200–£250 for the full course. That might sound steep, but compared to the months of pain, doctor visits, and medication that shingles can bring, it’s an investment in comfort and quality of life.
The NHS Needs Simplification
While it’s excellent that the NHS provides the vaccine for some, the staggered, age-based rollout has turned something simple into a bureaucratic nightmare. Many people eligible in theory are confused by the shifting rules or unaware they qualify at all. Others are left wondering why they must wait years to get protection that’s readily available in other developed countries for anyone over 50.
Until the NHS streamlines its approach and offers the shingles vaccine more widely, taking control of your own health and arranging a private jab may well be the most sensible move.
Bottom line: Don’t wait for a letter. Don’t risk weeks or months of unnecessary suffering. Whether free or paid for, the shingles vaccination is one of the smartest health decisions you can make.
It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
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