Anyone like me and at 66 have to wait until 70 for a shingles vacination?

It’s seems that people turning 65 are able to get the shingles vacc ( in England and Wales) but those of us 66 -69 have to wait until we are 70. It’s some sort of catch up to vaccinate both 65 and 70 year olds this year - but not the in betweens- who stick to the original age 70 timing.once the catch up is done the eligible age will be 65- although I thought I’d read somewhere that the plan is for a lower age group to be added eventually. It does seem a bit odd but I presume the nhs could cope with doubling the number eligible (adding the 65 year olds to the 70 year olds) but not five times ( all 65-70 year olds) as many in the this year. There is also a newer vaccine.

Thank you, OldFrill. I'm hoping for a call back tomorrow from my doc so maybe I can ask him then...

Didn’t know I could have it at 65 - I’m
66 now and 3 weeks ago came down with Covid and 2 days later got shingles on top / if only I’d had the vaccination

Yes it's very annoying. The rules seem crazy. I was 66 in May.

I got shingles when I was 60 and it is so painful. I received my first shingles vaccine at 70. Apparently you can get it more than once. It’s like putting the cart before the horse.

Went for my flu jab and nurse told me I was eligible for shingles jab, had it two weeks later and I am 68. My brother’s (who is 67) GP told him he is not eligible.

I had shingles twice but still couldn’t get my jab until I reached 70 which was this year. Seems like it’s a bit of a people’s lottery as to when you can get it.

Yep 66 and can't have it 'til I'm 60 - the advertising is very misleading!

They have always had gaps in the shingles vaccine- I worked in a drs before retiring. If it’s down to cost surely the sensible thing would be to go down from 70 until they reached 65?

I'm 66 too.Have had shingles 3 times (twice in the last 3 years) but still not eligible for the jab. Will do my best to stay shingles free til I'm 70!

I am 82 and have missed out every time. Apparently it is true that after 80 it isn’t as effective at stopping you getting shingles.

I am well over 80 and been refused some years back!

If any of you are carers you might be able to get the vaccine early. I was given mine early because I look after my disabled daughter.

Ditto same age as you..so frustrating! I don't understand the logic

I was told by my rheumatology consultant last year that I needed the shingles jab because of my medication (which supresses the immune system). I asked for it from my GP surgery but was given a very firm NO! I was told I would have to wait until I was 70 (I was 69 at the time). I queried it and was told they were not allowed to give it to anyone under 70 and there were no exceptions. I was surprised therefore that they are now giving it to 'rising 65's'. I again asked if I could have it and was again turned down. I will be 70 next week and this morning I was able to book an appointment for a jab on the day after my birthday. Thank goodness I didn't get shingles in the meantime!

It’s probably to do with supply as the manufacturer cannot provide unlimited doses. I believe the newly advised schedule is just one dose.

on the NHS website it says that the vaccine actually only works for about 5 years anyway

I just looked at the Boots site and they seem to think that you need two doses - odd since the NHS only give you one? I don't understand why it is so expensive either.
They're talking about giving children the chicken pox vaccine now and I've always understook that you only get shingles if you've had chicken pox, so not sure if the CP vaccine would mean you could get shingles?
I also had shingles years ago and had been trying for years to be vaccinated but they do certainly have weird rules about age. Finally had it last year aged 70. None of this makes sense to me really, it's always seemed to make more sense to vaccinate anybody who was willing.

There was an explanation on the Morning Live show a few weeks ago……afraid I can’t remember what it was as I have had mine!

I'm 67 and fairly peeved that I have to wait three years. DH gets his next year.

cc

I just looked at the Boots site and they seem to think that you need two doses - odd since the NHS only give you one? I don't understand why it is so expensive either.
They're talking about giving children the chicken pox vaccine now and I've always understook that you only get shingles if you've had chicken pox, so not sure if the CP vaccine would mean you could get shingles?
I also had shingles years ago and had been trying for years to be vaccinated but they do certainly have weird rules about age. Finally had it last year aged 70. None of this makes sense to me really, it's always seemed to make more sense to vaccinate anybody who was willing.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/paediatrics/jcvi-recommends-chickenpox-vaccine-for-all-children/#:~:text=The%20Joint%20Committee%20on%20Vaccination,and%2018%20months%20of%20age.

I and my DH are 67. He has already had shingles twice and still can't get a jab. Seems crazy to me but I guess it's another Tory plot to make life harder for older people!

If you can please get the double doze shingles vaccination. Not guaranteed but better than the single doze. AND IF you contact shingles get the anti viral tablets IMMEDIATELY at least 72 hours, It reduces the shingles effect, what you don’t need is for your locum gp to miss the signs and leave you too long before diagnosis. Shingles, pneumonia and for older people PHN. Post Herpetic Neuralgia, the most excruciating pain ever experienced. This you don’t want so please get vaccinated if you can. It may not be 100 percentage but you have to have some help. I can only reiterate again get help within 72 hours of contacting the virus. I’m 81 next month and I’ve had PHN for 10 months. It’s totally debilitating 24/7 as unlucky for me none of the meds have worked including morphine. I’m now cleared of meds and hopefully I’ll be eligible for clinical cannabis.

Shingles is so horrible that if I were not eligible and also hadnt had the jabs already ! I would scrape the money together and get the Shingrix privately. Easy to say of course. But I would do my best to find the money.

I have now learnt that anyone over 50 who has not had a shingles jab in the last five years can get one by entering into a new trial which has just started. So any age over 50 is OK and if your vaccine was more than 5 years ago it is OK.

The researchers have open recruitment in these areas. More will open soon: so even if these are not near you, click onto the link regularly to see when a centre opens up near you.

- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston
- North Bristol Trust
- Guys and St Thomas
- St Georges
- Royal United Hospitals Bath
- Hull University Teaching Hospital
- South Tees Hospitals
- Gloucestershire
- Marine Lake Medical Practice

Email [email protected] if you want their contact details for more information...