Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for encouraging people who are 60 years old and above who have not been vaccinated against shingles to receive a vaccination; and what steps they are taking to encourage the take-up of that vaccine amongst that cohort.

The National Shingles Vaccination Programme, implemented in September 2013 is provided by general practices. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends the shingles vaccine for adults routinely at age 70 years with a phased catch up for those aged 71-79 years. The eligibility criteria change means that patients become eligible for the vaccine from their 70th and 78th birthdays, if not previously vaccinated, and can be offered the vaccine opportunistically all year round.

In support of this change, Public Health England (PHE) has updated the communication materials for both patients and healthcare professionals to better identify those who are eligible and emphasise the benefits to patients from the shingles vaccination. This includes guidance for those individuals who have missed the opportunity to receive the vaccine previously but who remain eligible, up to their 80th birthday.