Shingles vaccine coverage (England): report for quarter 1 of the financial year 2023 to 2024
Updated 23 August 2024
Applies to England
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Main points
This is the first quarterly shingles report of the financial year 2023/24. This report evaluates vaccine uptake in those turning 70 years old from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023 (quarter 1) assessed at the end of September 2023. This report also presents vaccine coverage in cohorts turning 71 to 80 years old between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, again assessed at the end of September 2023.
The shingles vaccination programme was introduced in September 2013. The routine programme offers the vaccine to those turning 70 and patients remain eligible for the vaccine until their 80th birthday.
The main findings for this quarter were that:
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uptake in the cohort who turned 70 years old in quarter 1 of 2023/24 was 28.8% when measured at the end of September 2023; this compares to an uptake of 23.1% seen in quarter 1 of 2022/23
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cumulative shingles vaccine coverage for all adults aged between 71 and 80 years old continues to increase year on year through opportunistic vaccination
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at the end of September 2023 cumulative coverage in 71 to 80 year olds was highest among 79 year olds (83.4%) and lowest among 71 year olds (43.6%)
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cumulative coverage for each financial year 2019 to 2020 through to 2023 to 2024 was lowest in those aged 71 each year and increased with each incremental increase in age for routine cohorts who had become eligible at age 70
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cumulative coverage in those turning 80 during the quarter, who had been eligible since the start of the programme in 2013 when they turned 70, was 83.5%
Introduction
The aim of the routine shingles (herpes zoster) vaccination programme is to prevent severe morbidity from shingles in groups at the highest risk. The shingles vaccination programme began on 1 September 2013, offering the Zostavax shingles vaccine to all 70 year olds, together with a catch-up programme for older cohorts.
Since then, the eligibility criteria have changed several times (see the Appendix). In the 2023/24 financial year, adults become eligible at 70 years of age and all those who have previously been offered the shingles vaccine remain eligible until their 80th birthday (1 to 3).
For the first 5 years of the vaccination programme, vaccine coverage was monitored in England by Public Health England (PHE) through monthly collections via automatic uploads of GP practice-level data using the ImmForm website. (ImmForm is the system used by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to record vaccine coverage data for some immunisation programmes and to provide vaccine ordering facilities for NHS England.)
To continue to accurately evaluate cumulative vaccine coverage following a change in eligibility criteria on 1 April 2017, PHE changed the monthly collections to quarterly extractions, and vaccine coverage was also calculated each quarter to reflect the new delivery model (see the Appendix).
It is important to note that vaccine coverage for adults who have become eligible under the revised criteria is not directly comparable to previous cumulative vaccine coverage estimates using the former eligibility criteria (4).
As a live viral vaccine, the Zostavax shingles vaccine is contraindicated for immunosuppressed individuals. From 1 September 2021, these individuals have been offered the recombinant Shingrix vaccine (5). Coverage data for the Shingrix vaccine will be published in a separate report when this data has been submitted by GP IT suppliers and has been validated by UKHSA.
This quarterly report evaluates vaccine uptake in those turning 70 years of age from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023 (quarter 1), assessed at the end of September 2023. It also presents vaccine coverage in cohorts turning 71 to 80 years of age between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, again assessed at the end of March 2023.
Methods
The coverage data presented in this report was collected at GP practice level and was automatically uploaded via participating GP IT suppliers to the ImmForm website each quarter. This data was then validated and analysed by UKHSA to check data completeness, identify and query any anomalous results and describe epidemiological trends.
Quarter 1 vaccine uptake in the 70 year old cohort was defined as the total number of patients turning 70 in quarter 1 (1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023) who received the shingles vaccine before 23 September (numerator) as a proportion of the total number of registered patients turning 70 in quarter 1 (denominator). By collecting the data in late September, those becoming eligible in quarter 1 have between 3 and 6 months to receive the vaccine, depending on their date of birth.
Cumulative vaccine coverage for all adults born between 1 April 1943 and 31 March 1953 (that is, adults turning 71 to 80 years old between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024) and who were vaccinated by 23 September 2023 was calculated for each financial year birth cohort. Vaccine coverage in these cohorts is defined as the number of patients in each annual birth cohort who received the shingles vaccine before 23 September 2023 (numerator) as a proportion of the total number of registered patients in that birth cohort (denominator). A more detailed breakdown of the different cohorts can be found in Table 1.
Table 1. Birth range and shingles vaccine eligibility dates for cohorts included in the quarter 1 2023/24 coverage report
| Birth range of cohort | Year first eligible for the shingles vaccine | Age in April 2023 to March 2024 | Type of cohort | Period first eligible for shingles vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1943 to 31 March 1944 | 2013 to 2014 | 80 | Routine | September 2013 to August 2014 and September 2014 to August 2015 |
| 1 April 1944 to 31 March 1945 | 2014 to 2015 | 79 | Routine | September 2014 to August 2015 and September 2015 to August 2016 |
| 1 April 1945 to 31 March 1946 | 2015 to 2016 | 78 | Routine | September 2015 to August 2016 and September 2016 to August 2017 |
| 1 April 1946 to 31 March 1947 | 2016 to 2017 | 77 | Routine | September 2016 to August 2017 |
| 1 April 1947 to 31 March 1948 | 2017 to 2018 | 76 | Routine | April 2017 to March 2018 |
| 1 April 1948 to 31 March 1949 | 2018 to 2019 | 75 | Routine | April 2018 to March 2019 |
| 1 April 1949 to 31 March 1950 | 2019 to 2020 | 74 | Routine | April 2019 to March 2020 |
| 1 April 1950 to 31 March 1951 | 2020 to 2021 | 73 | Routine | April 2020 to March 2021 |
| 1 April 1951 to 31 March 1952 | 2021 to 2022 | 72 | Routine | April 2021 to March 2022 |
| 1 April 1952 to 31 March 1953 | 2022 to 2023 | 71 | Routine | April 2022 to March 2023 |
| 1 April 1953 to 31 March 1954 | 2023 to 2024 | 70 | Routine | April 2023 to March 2024 |
Results
A total of 6,275 out of a total of 6,402 (98.0%) GP practices reported shingles vaccine coverage data for the first quarter. All 3 GP IT suppliers (EMIS, TPP and INPS) provided this coverage data.
Vaccine uptake for birth cohort turning 70 in quarter 1 (April 2023 to June 2023), at 23 September 2023
Uptake for adults turning 70 during quarter 1 who were vaccinated by 23 September 2023 was 23.8%. This uptake is 5.7 percentage points higher than for the routine 70 year old cohort in quarter 1 of 2022/23 (at 23 September 2023).
Uptake varied by commissioning region and was highest in the South West (33.9%) and lowest in London (19.7%) as shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Shingles vaccine uptake for adults turning 70 in quarter 1 (April 2023 to June 2023), by commissioning region
| Commissioning region | Practices reporting data on 23 September 2023 (%) | Shingles uptake for those turning 70 years old in Q1 |
|---|---|---|
| London | 98.7 | 19.7 |
| South West | 98.9 | 33.9 |
| South East | 97.6 | 28.3 |
| Midlands | 98.4 | 29.4 |
| East of England | 97.7 | 32.1 |
| North West | 98.3 | 25.2 |
| North East | 96.6 | 31.6 |
| Total | 98.0 | 28.8 |
Vaccine coverage for birth cohorts turning 71 to 80 years old from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, at 23 September 2023
In quarter 1 of 2023/24, the highest cumulative coverage was observed among those turning 80 years old (83.4%), who had been eligible since they turned 70 in 2013/14.
The lowest cumulative coverage was observed among cohorts aged 71 (43.6%) and aged 72 (54.3%), who became eligible for the routine vaccination in the 2022/23 and 2021/22 financial years, respectively (Figure 1). This compares to cumulative coverage of 37.7% and 48% in adults aged 71 and 72 years old in the same quarter of the 2022/23 financial year (Table 3).
Coverage increases with each incremental increase in age for routine cohorts who had become eligible at age 70 as they have longer to be vaccinated.
In general, coverage across the cohorts was lowest in London and highest in the South West (Table 4).
Table 3. National cumulative shingles vaccine coverage for adults turning 71 to 80 years of age between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 and vaccinated by 23 September for each financial year from 2019/20 through to 2023/24
| Age | Coverage for 2019/20 financial year measured at 23 September 2019 (%) | Coverage for 2020/21 financial year measured at 23 September 2020 (%) | Coverage for 2021/22 financial year measured at 23 September 2021 (%) | Coverage for 2022/23 financial year measured at 23 September 2022 (%) | Coverage for 2023/24 financial year measured at 23 September 2023 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 years old | 37.8 | 32.2 | 28.7 | 37.7 | 43.6 |
| 72 years old | 51.3 | 49.8 | 45.7 | 48.0 | 54.3 |
| 73 years old | 59.5 | 57.5 | 56.6 | 57.0 | 59.6 |
| 74 years old | 67.4 | 63.5 | 62.4 | 64.0 | 65.2 |
| 75 years old | 73.2 | 69.8 | 67.3 | 68.2 | 69.8 |
| 76 years old | 76.2 | 74.6 | 72.4 | 72.0 | 73.0 |
| 77 years old | 46.6 [note 1] | 76.7 | 76.6 | 75.8 | 75.7 |
| 78 years old | 9.8 [note 2] | 51.3 [note 1] | 78.8 | 79.2 | 78.6 |
| 79 years old | 39.6 | 34.4 [note 2] | 63.8 [note 1] | 81.4 | 81.5 |
| 80 years old | 53.0 | 52.1 | 51.8 [note 2] | 73.6 [note 1] | 83.4 |
Note 1. Observed coverage is low as half of this cohort (those born 2 September 1942 to 31 March 1943) were offered the vaccine as part of the first routine programme in 2013/14 whereas half (those born between 1 April 1942 and 1 September 1942) did not become eligible until their 78th birthday in 2020.
Note 2. Observed coverage is low in this cohort as they did not become eligible until their 78th birthday in 2019/20.
Table 4. National cumulative shingles vaccine coverage for adults turning 71 to 80 years of age between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 and vaccinated by 23 September 2023, by commissioning region
| Commissioning region | Practices reporting data on 23 September 2023 | 71 year olds (eligible since 2022) | 72 year olds (eligible since 2021) | 73 year olds (eligible since 2020) | 74 year olds (eligible since 2019) | 75 year olds (eligible since 2018) | 76 year olds (eligible since 2017) | 77 year olds (eligible since 2016) | 78 year olds (eligible since 2015) | 79 year olds (eligible since 2014) | 80 year olds (eligible since 2013) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 98.7 | 33.0 | 46.0 | 53.3 | 59.3 | 64.4 | 67.9 | 70.7 | 73.2 | 75.8 | 77.8 |
| South West | 98.9 | 46.0 | 57.3 | 61.9 | 67.2 | 71.7 | 74.9 | 77.4 | 80.4 | 82.9 | 84.8 |
| South East | 97.6 | 43.3 | 56.1 | 60.9 | 66.6 | 71.3 | 74.5 | 77.3 | 79.8 | 82.4 | 84.5 |
| Midlands | 98.4 | 42.3 | 54.2 | 59.3 | 64.6 | 69.1 | 72.1 | 75.0 | 78.1 | 81.2 | 83.7 |
| East of England | 97.7 | 58.3 | 55.9 | 61.0 | 66.6 | 70.5 | 73.7 | 76.2 | 78.9 | 82.6 | 84.2 |
| North West | 98.3 | 38.8 | 52.3 | 57.7 | 63.7 | 68.7 | 71.6 | 75.0 | 78.4 | 80.9 | 82.5 |
| North East and Yorkshire | 96.6 | 43.8 | 56.2 | 61.5 | 67.0 | 71.5 | 74.6 | 76.9 | 79.7 | 82.7 | 84.3 |
| Total | 98 | 43.6 | 54.3 | 59.6 | 65.2 | 69.8 | 73 | 75.7 | 78.6 | 81.5 | 83.4 |
Figure 1. Shingles vaccine coverage at 23 September 2023 for cohorts turning 71 to 80 from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
Discussion
Shingles vaccine uptake estimates for those turning 70 years old during quarter 1 and vaccinated up to the end of September 2023 was 28.8%. This figure is 5.7 percentage points higher than last year. Cumulative vaccine coverage for each of the earlier routine cohorts (now aged 71 to 78) continues to increase each quarter.
Previous routine cohorts remain eligible for vaccination until their 80th birthday and longer-term vaccine coverage data shows increases in coverage in these cohorts in subsequent years (5). Indeed, the 80 year old cohort measured here have been eligible since they turned 70, when the programme began in September 2013, and have the highest coverage of all cohorts at 83.4%.
Results assessing the impact of shingles vaccination in the 5 years after the introduction of the programme in England showed large reductions in both GP consultations and hospitalisations for herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia (6). Therefore, GPs must continue to offer the shingles vaccine to all eligible patients, particularly in regions with lower coverage and those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Appendix. Date and eligibility criteria for the shingles vaccination programme since 1 September 2013
1 September 2013
In the first year of the programme (2013 to 2014), the vaccine was routinely offered to adults aged 70 years on 1 September 2013 (born between 2 September 1942 and 1 September 1943) and to adults aged 79 on 1 September 2013 (born between 2 September 1933 and 1 September 1934) as part of the catch-up campaign.
1 September 2014
In the second year of the programme (1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015), the vaccine was routinely offered to adults aged 70 years on 1 September 2014 (born between 2 September 1943 and 1 September 1944). The second year of the programme also included 2 catch-up cohorts comprised of adults aged 78 on 1 September 2014 (born between 2 September 1935 and 1 September 1936), and adults aged 79 on 1 September 2014 (born between 2 September 1934 and 1 September 1935). In addition, those who became eligible as 70 year olds from 1 September 2013 but had not yet been immunised were also eligible.
1 September 2015
In the third year of the programme (1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016), the vaccine was routinely offered to adults aged 70 years on 1 September 2015 (born between 2 September 1944 and 1 September 1945). The third year of the programme also included a catch-up cohort of adults aged 78 on 1 September 2015 (born between 2 September 1936 and 1 September 1937). In addition, patients who became eligible in the first 2 years of the programme but have not been vaccinated against shingles remain eligible until their 80th birthday (patients aged 71, 72 and 79 on 1 September 2015).
1 September 2016
In the fourth year of the programme (1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017), the vaccine was routinely offered to adults aged 70 years on 1 September 2016 (born between 2 September 1945 and 1 September 1946). The fourth year of the programme also included a catch-up cohort of adults aged 78 on 1 September 2016 (born between 2 September 1937 and 1 September 1938). In addition, patients who became eligible in the first 3 years of the programme but have not been vaccinated against shingles remain eligible until their 80th birthday (patients aged 71, 72, 73 and 79 on 1 September 2016).
1 April 2017
The eligibility criteria for receiving the shingles vaccine was simplified so that individuals become eligible on their 70th birthday (routine cohort) or their 78th birthday (catch-up cohort).
1 September 2020
As of 1 September 2020, all individuals in the catch-up cohorts (born 2 September 1933 to 1 September 1942) have been offered the shingles vaccine as they became 78 years old, thus completing the catch-up programme which started on 1 September 2013.
References
1. NHS Choices website (2021). Who can have the shingles vaccine?
2. UKHSA (2022). Vaccination against shingles: information for healthcare professionals
3. UKHSA (2022). Shingles: guidance and vaccination programme
4. UKHSA. Shingles vaccine uptake
5. UKHSA. Shingles (herpes zoster): the Green Book, chapter 28a
6. Andrews N, Stowe J, Kuyumdzhieva G, Sile B, Yonova I, Lusignan S, Ramsay M and Amirthalingam G (2020) Impact of the herpes zoster vaccination programme on hospitalised and general practice consulted herpes zoster in the 5 years after its introduction in England: a population-based study BMJ Open