Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he make an assessment of the effectiveness of the roll-out of the shingles vaccine.

From September 2023, the routine shingles vaccination programme changed from the Zostavax vaccine to the more effective Shingrix vaccine, to better protect individuals from the effects of shingles, provide better clinical outcomes and reduce pressures on the health system. A phased expansion of the routine eligible cohort from people aged 70 years old to those aged 60 years old also began in September 2023, as Shingrix provides a substantially superior and longer duration of protection.

Uptake is in line with where we expect it to be at this stage. Data from approximately 40% of general practices across England showed that uptake of the first dose of Shingrix in adults turning 65 years old in the first quarter of the programme roll-out was 25.1%. The data also showed that uptake of the first dose of Shingrix in adults turning 70 years old in the same period was 34.2%. This is comparable to uptake of Zostavax in those aged 70 years old in the early part of the programme roll-out, and is anticipated to increase over time.

Published data is cumulative and there is a time lag because, whilst the data covers all eligible individuals that quarter, individuals whose birthday is at the end of a quarter have far less time to receive the vaccine than those at the beginning and may then be picked up in the next or subsequent quarters. Individuals become eligible when they turn 65 or 70 years old but then remain eligible until aged 80 years old and may not come forward or be called to receive the vaccine immediately. This is accounted for in planning the programme and in relation to vaccine supply.

With the new vaccine schedule, patients now need two doses of the shingles vaccine. Ensuring patients receive both doses is vital to making sure patients receive the full benefits. To ensure patients come in for their second dose, which is due from six to 12 months following their first dose, NHS England is encouraging local systems to let patients know when and where they will receive their second dose to increase follow-through, send reminders, promote the programme and frame the overall goal in terms of having maximum protection by receiving both doses. A consistent offer and sustained communication to the public is key to achieving uptake of both first and second dose to all those eligible in line with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice.