I Dont Qualify For A Shingles Vaccination But Trying To Make Sense Of This Is Making My Head Spin!!

[RATTER15]

Who can have the shingles vaccination?

Shingles vaccination is offered routinely as part of the NHS vaccination programme for people aged 70 or 79. The first people to have the vaccine will be those aged 70 or 79 on September 1 2013.

If you were aged 70 or 79 on September 1 2013 but become 71 or 80 before attending for vaccination, you will still be able to have the shingles vaccine.

If you are aged 71 to 78 on September 1 2013, your next opportunity to have the shingles vaccine will be after you have reached the age of 79.


From: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/shingles-vaccination.aspx

[pixie373]

Yup. Clear as mud.

[Hymie]

It is clear to me - as you have set out above.

The NHS cannot afford to vaccinate everyone over 70, so have chosen this arbitrary selection criteria.

To those over 80 - hard luck, you were born too soon!!!!!!!

[Ann]

What an absolute shingles - I mean shambles!

[sherrardk]

Is shingles that common? Didn't even know they vaccinated against it.

[woofgang]

It gets commoner as you get older and is nasty in frail elderly people.

[RATTER15]

Its quite common, I've had it 3 times and im only 55, once badly effected and two mild bouts.

[woofgang]

I understand that once you have had it once, you are more likely to get it again.

[Canary42]

As usual, Cameron's NHS writes you off if you're over 79.

It's no longer SAVE LIVES, it's now SAVE MONEY.

RIP Beveridge.

[hc4361]

Canary, the NHS doesn't HAVE to give the shingles vaccine to anyone and there is only 60,000 doses available. It's a once in a lifetime vaccine so eventually every one will have it, but it will take a lot of time.

Privately, the cost is just short of £100 if you are willing to pay for it.