Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox in childhood, the virus stays dormant in your nerves for life, and decades later, often in your 60s or 70s, it can reactivate as shingles: a painful, blistering rash that can leave lasting nerve pain (post-herpetic neuralgia) for months.
About one in three Australians will get shingles in their lifetime. The chance and the severity both increase with age. A vaccine, the recombinant shingles vaccine, substantially reduces both.
Who is eligible
- Adults aged 65 and over, funded under the National Immunisation Program.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over, funded under the NIP.
- Immunocompromised adults aged 18 and over in specific risk categories, funded under the NIP.
Outside these groups, the vaccine is available privately. People aged 50–64 can choose to pay for it. If you’re in this group and recent shingles cases in your family or workplace concern you, it’s worth a conversation.
The schedule
Two doses, typically 2–6 months apart. Two doses give around 90% effectiveness against shingles in adults aged 50+, and around 90% effectiveness against post-herpetic neuralgia.
What to expect
- The injection is intramuscular, usually in the upper arm.
- The most common side effects are local, soreness, redness, sometimes mild swelling. Some people feel tired, have muscle aches, or run a low-grade fever for a day or two. These reactions are more common than with a flu shot but typically resolve quickly and are a sign your immune system is responding strongly.
- The 15-minute observation period applies, as with any vaccine.
If you’ve had shingles before
Vaccination is still recommended after recovery, shingles can recur. Wait until the acute episode has fully resolved (your doctor will advise) before vaccinating.
How to book
Walk in or book online. Bring photo ID and your Medicare card. If you’re uncertain about eligibility, call us on (03) 9364 7133 and we’ll talk it through.
Sources & further reading
General information only. This article is educational and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Your immuniser will confirm eligibility and contraindications on the day.
TGA advertising compliance. Vaccines are referred to by disease or category in line with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Specific brands and registered indications are discussed at the consultation.