What is the shingles vaccine? 

Shingles is a common condition that affects the skin. Having a shingles vaccine protects you against a painful rash and potentially other serious problems.  

This vaccine is given twice to patients, usually 6 to 12 months after the first dosage, to provide them with long-lasting protection. 

Who can have the private shingles vaccine? 

Those who can have the private shingles vaccination are:

• Individuals from the age of 50 years old  
• Individuals 18 years and older and have an increased risk of herpes zoster 
• Given valid consent from the patient/carer who does not want to consult with their GP and would prefer to access vaccination from the PGD user. 

You can receive the shingles vaccine more than once in your lifetime to help maintain your protection against the virus.  

However, individuals who cannot get the shingles vaccine are those who have experienced a serious allergic reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine or previous dose. 

What are the side effects of the shingles vaccine? 

Like every vaccine, there are common side effects that can occur. These include: 

• A high temperature 
• A headache 
• Fatigue 
• An achy body 
• Swelling, itchiness, bruising or pain where the needle was injected 
• Chills 

If you experience a serious reaction to this vaccination, please immediately contact the person who vaccinated you – as they are trained on how to handle and treat your symptoms. However, a serious reaction to the shingles vaccine is rare. 

Where can I get the shingles vaccine? 

You can search for an Allied Pharmacy offering this service near you, by using our postcode locater. This is found on the right-hand side of the page. Simply, type your postcode in the appointed box and a list of our pharmacies will display. 

An appointment is not necessary for this service, but to ensure that you receive the shingles vaccine on your visit, you can contact your local branch ahead of time. 

How effective is the shingles vaccine? 

The shingles vaccine contains non-live ingredients but does, however, contain a dormant key protein found in the virus. This protein triggers a response in the immune system to recognise this virus and fight it.  

This makes the shingles vaccine effective and able to protect due to the immune system's memory and response to recognising the threat of this virus from the vaccination. 

In turn, this protects you from developing serious problems that can happen from shingles such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss and potential blindness. 

Is this service offered privately? 

Yes, this service is offered privately to people who do not meet the eligibility criteria. The cost, per dose for a private shingles vaccine is £240.00.