New report highlights positive impact of shingles vaccinations

A new report has provided evidence that the government's shingles vaccination programme is delivering substantial benefits for the UK population.

Data published in the Lancet Journal of Public Health has shown a substantial decrease in shingles cases and associated complications in the first three years since Public Health England introduced its national shingles vaccination scheme.

Introduced in England in September 2013, the vaccine has proved to be 62 percent effective against shingles and between 70 percent and 88 percent effective against post-herpetic neuralgia, one of the main complications associated with the condition.

GP visits for these issues have therefore been reduced by 35 percent and 50 percent respectively in those aged 70 during 2013 to 2016.

However, despite these results, uptake of the vaccine has fallen, with a 13 percent decline in people aged 70 getting immunised since the start of the programme, while the number of people aged 78 years getting vaccinated has dropped by 8.4 percent since 2014.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at Public Health England, said: "Immunisation is the best way to protect yourself from this painful, sometimes debilitating condition. Taking up the vaccine is an important part of staying healthy as you age."

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