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Vaccinations

Shingles vaccination

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The shingles vaccination can provide protection against the virus that causes the disease.

What is shingles?

Shingles is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus, in medical terms). After you've had chickenpox, an inactive version of the virus remains in your body but can become active again later in life - causing shingles.

Lots of people think shingles is simply a painful rash that lasts a few weeks, however for some, it can cause more serious long-term complications even after the skin has healed. NHS and UK Health Security Agency guidance highlights how this is a particular risk as we age, as our immune systems become less effective at keeping the virus inactive.

Why get vaccinated against shingles?

The best protection against shingles and its complications is vaccination.

The NHS states that the shingles vaccine can help reduce your risk of developing shingles, and if you do, then your symptoms are likely to be much milder.1

Public Health Scotland also reports that vaccination can reduce the risk of shingles by more than 70%, and significantly reduce the risk of long-term pain and hospitalisation from shingles complications.2

Last reviewed: September 2026

Next review: September 2029

Reviewed by: Emma Kilbride

How your local Well can help with shingles

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from £225

Vaccination

Around 1 in 4 people will go on to develop shingles in their lifetime.3 Vaccination can help protect you.

This service may be suitable for you if you:

  • Are aged 50 or over*
  • Have not already had the vaccine
  • Have not had an allergic reaction to the vaccine before
  • Are not immunocompromised
  • Are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

Single dose: £225

Complete course (two doses): £450

*Patients aged between 70 and 79 can have a free NHS shingles vaccine from their GP.

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age 18+ only

Treatment

Think you might have shingles?

We offer FREE pharmacist-led advice and potential treatment of shingles, as part of our Pharmacy First service.

The shingles virus usually shows up as a painful rash on one side of your body, but other symptoms might include:

  • Tingling or burning skin
  • Itchy blisters
  • Headache

If you're worried you might be experiencing shingles, you can pop into your local Well Pharmacy for advice and - if suitable - treatment. This service is available to adults aged 18+.

More about Pharmacy First for shingles

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How our shingles vaccination service works

Schedule your appointment

You can book an appointment online or in-store. Select a time and location that works for you.

Head in-store for your first dose

On the day of your appointment, pop into your Well Pharmacy. A pharmacist will give you your first jab in a private area within the store.

Get your second dose

You'll need to return to your nearest pharmacy within 6 months of your first dose to complete your treatment.

Complications from shingles

Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN)

Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most common long-term complication of shingles, but many haven't heard of it.

PHN occurs when nerve-damage caused by shingles continues to send pain signals even after the rash has disappeared. People suffering from PHN might experience:

  • Burning pain
  • Stabbing or electric shock-like sensations
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch
  • Persistent itching or numbness
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Reduced quality of life (e.g. trouble socialising, restrictions with wearing certain clothing due to skin sensitivity)

The CDC states that around 10-18% of people who develop shingles go on to experience PHN, with the risk increasing significantly with age.4

PHN can persist for months and sometimes over a year after the shingles rash has resolved.5 Some patients will require ongoing pain management and specialist treatment to manage the symptoms.

Eye complications

If shingles affects the eye, it can lead to:

  • Reduced vision
  • Permanant sight loss
  • Ongoing eye inflammation

If you have the shingles virus and it's affecting your eye health, you should seek urgent medical treatment.

Hearing and facial nerve problems

Shingles affecting the facial nerves or ear health can cause:

  • Hearing loss
  • Balance issues
  • Facial weakness

These complications can have a lasting impact on quality of life.

Neurological complications

Although it's more uncommon, shingles can lead to issues with brain health, such as:

  • Brain inflammation (encephalitis
  • Serious neurological complications
  • Hospital admission

These risks are higher in older adults and immunocompromised patients.

More about shingles

What is shingles?

Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. If you get it, a rash will appear across a nerve. The rash can cause pain and discomfort. Find out how you can get vaccinated at Well.

What are the symptoms of shingles?

The first sign of shingles is often a tingling, burning or painful feeling in an area of skin. You may also have a headache or feel generally unwell.

A rash usually appears a few days later and develops into itchy, fluid-filled blisters. New blisters may continue to appear for up to a week before drying out and forming scabs.

The pain can feel dull, burning or stabbing and can range from mild to severe. The affected skin may also feel particularly tender or sensitive to touch.

The rash usually heals within a few weeks, but for some people, the pain and long-term health issues can persist after the skin has healed.

Can shingles cause complications?

Many people recover from shingles within a few weeks. However, some people experience complications or symptoms that last after the rash has gone. The risk of complications generally increases with age and may also be higher for people with a weakened immune system.

The most common long-term complication of shingles is Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), but eye health, hearing health and brain health can also be affected.

Who is at risk of shingles?

The risk of shingles increases as you get older. And the older you are, the worse the infection can be.

The shingles rash can be extremely painful, to the extent that sufferers cannot even bear the feeling of their clothes touching the affected skin.

Some people are left with pain lasting for years after the initial rash has healed.

Can you get shingles if you've never had chickenpox?

No. Shingles and chickenpox are caused by varicella-zoster virus.

So, if you haven’t been infected with the virus at any point in your life, you won’t be able to get shingles.

Can you get shingles if you have had chickenpox before?

Yes, you can. The varicella-zoster virus stays dormant in your body after it first infects you. It can be reactivated and cause the symptoms that are associated with shingles.

How does treatment for shingles and chickenpox differ?

Shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus. But they are treated using different products. The Shingrix vaccine can help protect against development of the shingles virus, while chickenpox can either be prevented with the Varilrix or Varivax vaccination.

The symptoms that shingles and chickenpox cause are not exactly the same. Although both conditions can cause an itchy rash, headaches and fever, typically shingles causes skin changes that only affect one side of the body. It can also cause fatigue (tiredness) and muscle weakness.

Can I get a shingles vaccination on the NHS?

Yes. You can get a shingles vaccination on the NHS if you are:

  • turning 65
  • are aged between 70 and 79
  • are 18 or older and are immunocompromised (have a severely weak immune system).

Eligibility criteria can change over time, so we recommend checking the latest NHS guidance or speaking to your GP practice.

References

1Shingles, NHS UK. Last reviewed November 2023.

2Why you should get the shingles vaccine, Public Health Scotland. Last updated July 2026.

3NHS shingles vaccine will be offered to almost one million more people, NHS England. Published July 2023.

4Shingles Symptoms and Complications, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Published April 2024.

5Post-herpetic neuralgia, NHS UK. Last reviewed February 2025.

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