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Thousands more to get jab to protect against ‘blinding’ virus that lives in most Brits – are you eligible?

Thousands more to get jab to protect against ‘blinding’ virus that lives in most Brits – are you eligible?

AROUND 300,000 more people will become eligible for a potentially lifesaving vaccine next week in a move to protect all vulnerable adults.

The vaccine, which protects against shingles, is currently only available to older adults.

Illustration of a shingles vaccine vial and syringe.

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The shingles vaccine is being rolled out to people aged 18 to 49 who have a severely weakened immune systemCredit: Getty
Shingles rash on a person's back.

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Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the virus which causes chickenpox and usually occurs decades after initial infectionCredit: Getty

From Monday 1 September, people aged 18 to 49 who have a severely weakened immune system will be eligible for the shingles vaccination.

They'll be able to book an appointment for the vaccine with their GP surgery - with most practices starting to contact people over the coming weeks.

People included in the roll out include those with leukaemia or lymphoma or those who are undergoing chemotherapy, which put them at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell if they contract shingles.

Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (which causes chickenpox) and usually occurs decades after initial infection.

The condition causes a painful rash and typically lasts between two and four weeks.

In the UK, it's estimated that about nine out of 10 adults have been infected with the chickenpox virus, which means most people are living with shingles in a dormant state.

One in five people will go on to develop shingles in their lifetime and although most people make a full recovery, it can cause serious problems including persistent pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia and eye problems,ranging from mild irritation to severe vision loss.

It can even lead to pneumonia, hepatitis and inflammation of the brain.

Those who are severely immunosuppressed are most at risk of serious illness and complications from shingles.

The vaccine, Shingrix®, is currently available to people aged 65 to 79 and severely immunosuppressed individuals from 50 years of age.

The symptoms of chickenpox and serious complications

Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: “The vaccine is safe and effective and significantly reduces the chance of developing shingles and becoming seriously unwell, so I’d urge anyone newly eligible to come forward for their protection as soon as possible.

“The NHS will be contacting you to let you know you are eligible, but you can also make a booking through your local GP – and even if you've had shingles before, you can develop it again so please still come forward for the offer.”

Severely immunosuppressed people will be offered two doses of the non-live shingles vaccine, Shingrix®, with the second dose given eight weeks to six months after the first dose.

The roll out follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who found the risk of hospitalisation from shingles or those resulting in post-herpetic neuralgia was similar in younger immunosuppressed age groups who those who were already eligible for the vaccine.

A JCVI report estimated prior to the introduction of a shingles vaccination programme in 2013, there were more than 4,5000 hospital admissions per year due to shingles, most of which could have been prevented through vaccination.

Within the first three years of the vaccination programme, there were an estimated 17,000 fewer episodes of shingles and 3,300 fewer episodes of post-herpetic neuralgia among the eligible population.

What to do if you have shingles

If you have symptoms of shingles and you're 18 years old or older, you can see a pharmacist.

Try to see a pharmacist within three days of the rash appearing.

If you need medicine, it can help to speed up your recovery and avoid longer-lasting problems.

But you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

You have symptoms of shingles and:

  • you're pregnant
  • you're breastfeeding and the shingles rash is on your breasts
  • the rash is on your eye or nose
  • you have changes to your vision
  • you have a severely weakened immune system, for example, from chemotherapy
  • you're 17 years old or younger

You might need medicine to help speed up your recovery and avoid longer-lasting problems.

This works best if you start taking it within 3 days of the shingles rash appearing.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Source: NHS

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