Shingles: who the vaccine is funded for

Shingles is one of those conditions people tend to know by reputation rather than by detail — something unpleasant that happens to older relatives. It is more common than most people expect, and there is a vaccine that is funded for several groups under the National Immunisation Program.

What shingles actually is

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is not a new infection. It is the chickenpox virus — varicella-zoster — reactivating years after the original illness. Most Australian adults have had chickenpox by the age of 30, whether or not they remember it, so most adults carry the virus.

It usually appears as a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters on one side of the face or body, often in a strip or band-like pattern. Headache, tiredness, itching, tingling or severe pain can come with it. The illness itself is usually self-limiting and lasts around 10 to 15 days.

Why it is worth preventing

Around 20 to 30 per cent of people will have shingles at some point in their lives, most of them after the age of 50. Around half of all people who live to 85 will have had an episode.

The reason it matters is the complication that can follow it. Post-herpetic neuralgia is nerve pain at the site of the rash that continues for more than three months after the rash itself has cleared. It is the most common complication of shingles, it can have a severe effect on quality of life, and it is difficult to treat. People aged over 70 are more likely to experience complications.

Who the vaccine is funded for

Shingrix is the only shingles vaccine available in Australia — Zostavax, the older vaccine, was deregistered in December 2024. Shingrix is a non-live vaccine, which is why it can be given to people whose immune systems are suppressed.

Under the National Immunisation Program, a two-dose course of Shingrix is funded for:

• people aged 65 and over

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over

• people aged 18 and over with certain immunocompromising conditions, or on certain immunosuppressive therapies

More broadly, the vaccine is registered and recommended for everyone aged 50 and over, and for immunocompromised adults from 18 years. People who fall outside the funded groups can access it on a private prescription.

What the course involves

Shingrix is given as two doses. For people who are not immunocompromised, the doses are two to six months apart; for people who are immunocompromised, the interval is one to two months. Booster doses are not currently recommended. A blood test to check for past chickenpox is not generally needed beforehand.

Two questions that come up often

“I have already had shingles — is there any point?” Yes. Vaccination is still recommended after an episode. The usual advice is to wait at least 12 months after the episode, or three months for people who are immunocompromised.

“Can I have it at the same time as my flu vaccine?” Shingrix can be given at the same visit as most other vaccines, including influenza, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, provided they go into different injection sites.

Side effects

Soreness, swelling and redness at the injection site are common. Some people also experience tiredness, muscle aches, headache, shivering or fever. These are typically mild and settle within a few days.

If you are not sure whether this applies to you

Eligibility depends on your age, your background and your medical history, and the immunocompromising conditions covered by the program are set out in a detailed table rather than a simple rule. If you would like to know where you stand, ask our team.

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Source: National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), “Zoster (shingles) vaccine: frequently asked questions (FAQs)”, last updated 20 January 2026, ncirs.org.au. Funded eligibility groups are those of the Australian Government National Immunisation Program; the full list of eligible immunocompromising conditions and therapies is set out in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.