70 year olds urged to get protected against Shingles

21 September 2018

The latest annual report of Jersey’s immunisation statistics, released today, show that more 70 year olds took up the shingles vaccine protection in 2016 compared with 2017.

Health and Community Services are urging 70 year olds who haven’t yet had the shingles vaccine to take advantage of this effective prevention against the pain and potential complications from shingles.

Over five and a half thousand elderly Islanders have had the shingles vaccine since it was introduced in autumn 2016. Islanders are eligible during their 70th birthday year – in 2018, it is people born in 1948 who should get the vaccine.

A catch-up programme in 2016/17 also offered the vaccine to 71-79 year olds. All those born 1937 to 1945 were eligible to get this protection.

Dr Linda Diggle, Head of Preventive Programmes, who oversees the island’s vaccination schedule said: “If you were born in 1948 and you haven’t yet had the shingles vaccine, please make an appointment with your GP to get this important protection. You only need to have the vaccine once.

“Shingles is a very painful condition and whilst it can occur at any age, it is those in their seventh decade that are most likely to suffer from the condition. The older you are, often you’re more likely to suffer from shingles for longer and have an increased risk of complications, such as ongoing nerve pain. There is no cure for the condition, so preventing shingles by having the vaccination is, by far, the best option. And if you have already had shingles, the vaccine will boost your immunity against further shingles attacks.”