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People aged between 70 and 79 could be offered protection against shingles for the first time as a vaccination programme moved a step closer the Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said today.

The move follows a recommendation made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that the vaccine should be offered to this age group if it can be bought at a price which makes the programme cost-effective.

The recommendation is covered by provisions in the NHS Constitution which mean that if the JCVI recommends a vaccine programme based on an assessment of cost-effectiveness, patients have the right to receive the vaccine on the NHS.

Shingles is a nasty illness which most often affects, and is more severe in, older people. It is caused by the re-activation of the chickenpox virus that an individual caught, usually as a child.

It causes a painful rash of blisters, which can last for many weeks or months.  Although treatable with antiviral drugs, shingles can be extremely debilitating and sufferers may be hospitalised with many suffering chronic pain lasting months.

Shingles tends to be more serious the older people get, and about a quarter of adults will get shingles at some point in their life.

Minister for Public Health Gillian Merron said

"Shingles is an unpleasant illness which can be very serious, especially for older people”.

“I welcome the recommendation from the experts on immunisation that we should look for a cost-effective vaccine.

“A vaccination programme would be good news for those in their 70s. It would improve people’s quality of life by offering protection against this illness.

“Prevention of ill-health is at the heart of the NHS".

A rigorous procurement programme will now be undertaken to determine whether shingles vaccine can be procured at a price which would make the vaccination programme cost-effective.

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