Guidance

Shingles: questions and answers for healthcare professionals

The aim of the universal vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of shingles disease in older people.

• From: Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 12 July 2013
• Last updated: 24 February 2016
  Show all updates

  1. 24 February 2016

     Amended document to reflect changes to the licensure of Zostavax and administration requirements.

  2. 9 October 2015

     Updated shingles vaccine Q and A for healthcare professionals.

  3. 23 September 2014

     The Shingles Q&A for healthcare professionals has been updated.

  4. 13 September 2013

     Edits provided by Immunisation Hepatitis and Blood Safety team at PHE Colindale.

  5. 23 August 2013

     Reformatted and branded version, with revisions to text following consultation.

  6. 24 July 2013

     Additional questions and answers added.

  7. 12 July 2013

     First published.

This publication was withdrawn on 9 April 2018

Please see the shingles collection for the latest information.

Documents

Shingles Q and A for healthcare professionals

Ref: PHE publications gateway number: 2014636

PDF, 730 KB, 23 pages

Details

Shingles is a common disease that can cause long-lasting, severe pain. It can cause permanent disability, and it occurs more frequently in those over 70 years old, who are also more likely to have worse symptoms

It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox – varicella zoster.

A universal routine herpes zoster (shingles) vaccination programme for adults aged over 70 years started in September 2013. The aim of the universal vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of shingles disease in older people.