Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

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This learning resource has been developed to equip registered healthcare practitioners with the essential knowledge and skills to confidently deliver the Shingles Immunisation Programme. Whether you're new to shingles vaccination or looking to refresh your understanding, the materials offer practical guidance and key insights to support safe and effective immunisation delivery.

Learning Resources

To support the Shingles immunisation programme in Scotland from 1 September 2024, NHS Education for Scotland, in collaboration with Public Health Scotland, has updated its educational materials. These include a read-only PowerPoint presentation and a PDF version with accompanying notes.

This learning resource is designed to support registered healthcare practitioners in the effective delivery of the Shingles immunisation programme. It provides an overview of the aetiology and epidemiology of Shingles, explains its relationship to chickenpox (varicella zoster), and highlights the increased severity of the disease in older adults. The resource also outlines current vaccine eligibility criteria and offers practical guidance to help practitioners engage confidently with patients about Shingles vaccination.

Resources are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect current guidance but do not replace clinical judgement. Practitioners should refer to Shingles (herpes zoster): the green book, chapter 28a, when administering the vaccine.

Further guidance is also available in the CMO letter dated 11 February 2025: Shingles Vaccination Programme 2024/25 – Enduring Offer.

Shingles Vaccine Eligibility by Age Calculator

Practitioners may find the shingles vaccine eligibility calculator helpful for identifying individuals eligible for the Shingles vaccine based on age-related criteria. By entering a date of birth, the tool confirms eligibility for the age-based cohorts included in the programme.

Please note: This tool does not assess eligibility based on clinical factors such as immunosuppression. For full eligibility criteria, practitioners should refer to Shingles (herpes zoster): the green book, chapter 28a.