Shingles vaccine

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful blistering rash. It is caused by reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox. While most symptoms typically last 2-3 weeks, shingles can become serious. It can lead to nerve pain that can last for months (called post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN). Other serious complications include pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness and swelling of the brain.

About 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime. Shingles usually affects older people, and the risk of complications increases with age, particularly for:

• those over the age of 65
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over
• some people with weakened immune systems

Eligibility for shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine

Shingrix is a FREE shingles vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and is available for eligible people most at risk of complications from shingles.

A 2-dose course of Shingrix is available for free for:

• people aged 65 years or older
• First Nations people aged 50 years and over
• immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over with the following medical conditions:
  • haematopoietic stem cell transplant
  • solid organ transplant
  • haematological malignancy
  • advanced or untreated HIV

Book an appointment

There is a very limited supply of this vaccine, if you are eligible for the vaccine and wanting to book in, please contact us on 5018 8100 and you will be placed on a wait list.

If you previously received a free Zostavax shingles vaccine under the NIP, you are not eligible for a free Shingrix vaccine for at least 5 years.

For more information about eligibility criteria, please visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.