What is Shingles?
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of a latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. Primary VZV infection manifests as chickenpox, a highly contagious condition that is characterised by an itchy, vesicular rash. Following this initial infection, the virus enters the dorsal root ganglia and remains there as a permanent, dormant infection. Reactivation of this latent VZV infection, generally occurring decades later, causes shingles.
Common symptoms
The predominant symptom of shingles is pain, often with associated paraesthesia (pricking, tingling or numbness). This is followed by the development of a painful rash, similar in appearance to that of chickenpox, which forms itchy, fluid-filled blisters that usually persist for two to four weeks. These disturbances occur in a unilateral dermatomal distribution, corresponding to the ganglia in which the viral infection is located. Other symptoms may include headache, photophobia, malaise and fever.
Shingles FAQs
How is shingles different to chickenpox?
Although both shingles and chicken pox are caused by VZV, they are two different conditions. The main symptom of chickenpox, which usually occurs in children, is an itchy rash. Shingles, more commonly occurring within the older population, is predominantly characterised by pain.
How common is shingles?
Around 1 in 5 people who have had chickenpox (usually in childhood) go on to develop shingles. That means that 10s of thousands of people in England and Wales will get shingles each year.
How is the shingles vaccine given?
As an injection into the upper arm.
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for shingles. Painkilling medication can be used to relieve the symptoms until the condition resolves (usually within 4 weeks). Associated secondary conditions can prove extremely difficult to treat and may lead to long-term complications.
Who can have the shingles vaccination?
Shingles vaccination is available to all people aged 70 or 78.
In addition, anyone who was previously eligible (born on or after 2 September 1942) but missed out on their shingles vaccination remains eligible until their 80th birthday.
When you’re eligible, you can have the shingles vaccination at any time of year.
The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 or over because it seems to be less effective in this age group.
Read more about who can have the shingles vaccine.
How do I get the shingles vaccination?
Once you become eligible for the shingles vaccination, your doctor will take the opportunity to vaccinate you when you attend the surgery for general reasons, or for your annual flu vaccination.
You can have it at the same time as your flu jab in the autumn, if you wish.
If you are worried that you may miss out on the shingles vaccination, contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment to have the vaccine.
Do you need to have the shingles vaccination every year?
No, it’s a one-off injection.
Will there be any side effects from the shingles vaccination?
It’s quite common to get redness and discomfort at the vaccination site, as well as headaches, but these side effects should not last more than a few days. See your GP if you have side effects that last longer than a few days, or if you develop a rash after having the shingles vaccination.
Read more about the side effects of the shingles vaccine.
What about people who are not 70 yet? Will they get the shingles vaccine?
People under the age of 70 will get the shingles vaccine during the year following their 70th birthday.
It’s not available on the NHS to younger people because shingles is more common in the over-70s.
What about people who are not aged 70 or 78? Can they have the vaccine?
Anyone who was previously eligible for shingles vaccination but missed out can have the vaccine. This means:
- anyone in their 70s who was born after 2 September 1942
- anyone aged 79
The shingles vaccination programme is being staggered this way because it would be impractical to vaccinate everyone in their 70s in a single year.
Why can I not have the shingles vaccination if I’m over 80?
The vaccine does not work as well in people over the age of 80.
For more information on Shingles vaccinations and eligibility please click here.
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Booster for a pregnant woman
A pregnant woman should have a Tdap booster shot in the third trimester of every pregnancy to protect the fetus.
Whooping cough vaccine (Pertussis)
Pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis). Having the vaccination helps protect your baby from catching whooping cough in the first few weeks after they’re born, as they will get some of the immunity from you.
The best time to have the whooping cough vaccine is between 20 weeks (after your scan) and 32 weeks. But if for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour.
Read FAQs about whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy.