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Shingles: guidance and vaccination programme

The characteristics, management and surveillance of shingles (herpes zoster).

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published:
13 September 2013
Last updated:
15 August 2025 — See all updates

Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the area of skin around it. It is caused by the herpes varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

Following chickenpox infection, the virus can lie dormant in the nervous tissue but may reappear following reactivation as shingles. It is possible to have shingles more than once.

A shingles vaccination programme started in September 2013.

For symptoms and general information on shingles, visit NHS.UK.

Download the training slide set for healthcare professionals.

Guidance

Management

The Virus Reference Department (VRD) provides diagnostic and reference services for rash associated viral infections.

Leaflets, posters and resources

Programme documents

Research and analysis

Updates to this page

Last updated:
15 August 2025
Show all updates

  1. Added link to updated shingles slideset.

  2. Added 'Expansion of Shingrix® vaccine eligibility to all those who are severely immunosuppressed and aged 18 years and over' letter.

  3. Guide 'Shingrix® vaccine for people with weakened immune systems' out of date and removed.

  4. Removed 'Data collection' section. Added the 2024 version of the shingles training slide set.

  5. Added "Easy read guide to the shingles vaccine".

  6. Added new Shingrex vaccine coverage reports page to the Research and Analysis subgroup.

  7. Added 'Shingles vaccination: why you are being asked to wait'.

  8. Updated training slide set.

  9. Updated training slide set.

  10. Added 'Shingles vaccination programme: changes from September 2023 letter'.

  11. Added link to training slide set for healthcare professionals.

  12. Added shingles vaccination checklist.

  13. Added Shingrix® vaccine for people with weakened immune systems.

  14. Added 'Shingles immunisation programme: introduction of Shingrix® letter'.

  15. Added reports for 2017 to 2018, 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020.

  16. Added link to the shingles training slide set.

  17. Added the April 2018 shingles vaccination programme letter.

  18. Added guidance document for healthcare professionals.

  19. Added the herpes zoster (shingles) immunisation programme 2016 to 2017: evaluation report.

  20. Updated shingles eligibility calculator for 2017 to 2018.

  21. Revised shingles vaccination leaflet.

  22. Added Shingles vaccination eligibility poster for 2017 to 2018.

  23. Updated poster: Who is eligible for the 2016 to 2017 shingles vaccine?

  24. Updated shingles vaccination leaflet for immunisation programme from 1 September 2016.

  25. Added letter providing information on the shingles immunisation programme from 1 September 2016

  26. Poster guides for patients and GPs showing the eligible ages for the shingles vaccination from 1 September 2015.

  27. Herpes zoster (shingles) immunisation programme 2013 to 2014: evaluation report added to the collection.

  28. The 'Shingles immunisation programme letter' has been uploaded.

  29. Added new leaflet, describing programme from 1 September 2014 onward.

  30. First published.

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