Shingles vaccination program extended
Older Australians will have free access to the best available protection against shingles starting on 1 November.
How to identify shingles
The initial symptoms of shingles are:
About two to three days after the initial symptoms, a rash will appear on sensitive skin. This rash usually appears on one side of your body around a skin nerve (called a dermatome).
At first, the rash consists of painful red bumps. These bumps quickly develop into fluid-filled blisters, which can be painful and itchy. These blisters will burst, and then heal into a crusty surface over two weeks.
Shingles rash can affect your face, chest, back, abdomen, and pelvis. The rash usually lasts for around 10 days, but it can take several weeks to settle.
National Seniors Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to spend $826.8 million vaccinating almost 5 million people – including everyone aged 65 and over – against shingles.
The free Shingrix vaccine will be made available under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) from 1 November 2023.
The scheme replaces and expands on the previous government’s program to provide free Zostavax shingles vaccine to people aged 71 to 79, which expires on 31 October.
National Seniors has long called for older Australians to be protected from shingles, also known as herpes zoster.
Our advocacy dates back to 2014, with the release of a report titled Seniors and Immunisation in Australia: Awareness, Experience and Attitudes.
In that report, we noted that shingles “is an illness that places a significant burden on senior Australians and the health system… characterised by a rash that causes its sufferers acute and chronic pain”.
The National Seniors campaign pointed out that shingles had affected the ability to work of 32% of Australians aged 50-plus who had the disease.
Our advocacy played a role in the two-year extension of the original shingles vaccination program for Australians aged 70-79, which was due to expire in 2021.
The new scheme will see free vaccines for all people aged 65 years and over, First Nations people 50 years and over, and immunocompromised people 18 years and over who are at high risk of herpes zoster infection.
The Health Department said the Shingrix vaccine provides around 10 years of protection and can cost up to $560 per dose. For almost 5 million people, that will now be free.
Shingles is caused by reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox and presents as a painful blistering rash on one side of the face or body that lasts 10-15 days.
One in five people with shingles will develop severe nerve pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia that can last months or even years. In some cases, it may be permanent.
The risk of developing shingles increases with age and people aged over 65 are at the highest risk of complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia.
The Health Department said Shingrix will replace Zostavax on the NIP following advice from independent medicines experts at the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
Health Minister Mark Butler said, “Without vaccination, almost one in three Australians will get shingles in their lifetime.
“Older Australians will now have free access to the best protection against shingles through one of the most comprehensive and widely available vaccination programs in the world.
“Shingles can be severe, so it’s really important that eligible people talk to their GP or pharmacist about getting the shingles vaccine.”
Related reading: Health Direct, ABC, Minister’s statement
