Question reference: S6W-27107
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 29 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand eligibility for the shingles vaccine.
Answer
Eligibility for the programme was recently expanded to allow some individuals to get protected at an earlier age. To deliver the programme effectively, NHS Boards will offer the programme on a phased basis over 10 years meaning by 2033 the vaccine will be routinely offered to everyone aged 60 and over.
Since 1 September 2023 the following groups have been eligible:
- People who were aged 65 or 70 years on 1 September 2023
- People aged 71–79 years who have not previously been vaccinated
- People aged 50 years or over, about to start immunosuppressive therapy
- People aged 50 years or over, with a severely weakened immune system
- People aged 18 years or over who have received a stem cell transplant
- People aged 18 years or over who have had CAR-T therapy
This phased approach is based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and to support NHS Boards to deliver the programme alongside other immunisation programmes.
There are no plans to expand eligibility any further at this stage. As with all vaccination programmes, the JCVI keeps its recommendations under review. If at any time the JCVI updates its recommendations around the shingles vaccination the Scottish Government will give this due consideration.