Shingles vaccinations start in February. Check if you’re eligible and get protected!
One in four adults develop shingles so it’s important to get the vaccine when offered. Getting vaccinated reduces your risk of being hospitalised or experiencing long-term pain from shingles if you do get it.
The shingles vaccine is being offered to more people to help protect them at an earlier age. NHS Scotland can’t do this all at once, so it needs to be rolled out over 10 years. Check if you’re eligible for the shingles vaccine at www.nhsinform.scot/shingles
Who is eligible for the shingles vaccine?
The following groups are eligible for two doses of the free shingles vaccination in Scotland:
- People who were aged 65 or 70 years on 1 September 2025.
- People aged 18 years and over who are severely immunosuppressed who have not yet received Shingrix® vaccine.
- People aged 18 years or over, about to start immunosuppressive therapy should be assessed for vaccine eligibility by their treating clinician before starting treatment and referred as appropriate according to local pathways.
- People aged 18 years or over who are severely immunosuppressed due to receiving a stem cell transplant should be offered Shingrix vaccinations irrespective of previous vaccination with Zostavax ® or Shingrix® pre-transplant, in line with Scottish Haematology Society Guidelines. This includes adult recipients of allogeneic transplant, autologous transplant, a CAR-T, or similar therapy
To find out if you’re eligible based on your age you can double check using this simple calculator
About the programme
Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus as chicken pox. Symptoms include a tingling feeling on your skin, feeling unwell and a painful rash, that usually forms on one side of your body. Shingles is more common among older people, but even younger people can experience it. For some, the pain caused by shingles can last for many years.
The shingles vaccine helps to build up your immunity to the virus, so if you do get shingles, your body will fight it more easily.
Dr Sohail Bhatti, Director of Public Health at NHS Borders, said: “Having the shingles vaccination is highly beneficial, as it can prevent you from getting shingles, or reduce the severity of your symptoms if you do get it.
“As we get older, our immune systems have often been weakened by age, stress, illness, or certain medical treatments, so getting the shingles vaccine is particularly important in helping to boost your immunity to this viral condition.”
Making an appointment
A letter will be sent to those eligible for their shingles vaccination, asking them to book an appointment with our vaccination team by calling 01896 809250.
If you have not already received a shingles vaccination but meet the eligibility criteria, please call 01896 809250.
Clinic venues
Clinics will be held at the following locations: Coldstream, Duns, Earlston, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick, Innerleithen, Jedburgh, Kelso, Lauder, Newcastleton, Newtown St Boswells, Peebles, Selkirk, West Linton,
Alternative arrangements will be made for those who are housebound or who live in residential, care or nursing homes.
Further information:
NHS Borders Vaccination Hub: 01896 809 250
World Health Organization Vaccines and immunization