Are you aged 70 or 79? – The shingles national immunisation programme

Posted by: marcia - Posted on:

Non-urgent advice: What is shingles?

Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. 90% of adults raised in the UK have had chickenpox, although not everyone may recall having it. If you have had chickenpox then you are at risk of developing shingles.

Shingles is characterised by a painful rash, usually affecting one side of the body.

Your immune system gets weaker with age, which may be one of the reasons shingles risk and severity increases as we get older and tends to be more common in people aged over 70.

You may be eligible for a shingles vaccination.

Please ask your GP or Practice Nurse for more information.

Alternatively, visit the following website: www.shinglesaware.co.uk