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Guidance

Shingles vaccination guide

Information on shingles and the benefits of vaccination for adults and a postcard to invite eligible patients.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published:
16 July 2013
Last updated:
2 October 2025
Show all updates

  1. Updated translations and accessible versions linked

  2. Added new version of the main guide.

  3. Added links to accessible and translated versions of the updated shingles leaflet.

  4. Corrected links to the product pages of health publications.

  5. Updated the current guidance to remove references to Zostavax which is no longer in use.

  6. Added links to accessible materials and removed resources no longer in use from September 2023.

  7. Added links to translated materials.

  8. Added the links to the shingles vaccination invitation postcards for health professionals.

  9. Added guides with changes from September 2023, and links for ordering record cards and stickers.

  10. Updated vaccination against shingles guide.

  11. Added updated leaflet and vaccination postcard.

  12. Added revised leaflet.

  13. Revised shingles leaflet and new appointment postcard.

  14. Updated for 2016 immunisation programme.

  15. New shingles vaccination leaflet describing shingles, benefits of vaccination and eligibility from September 2015. Order leaflet copies through the DH order line link.

  16. The dates of birth of eligible 78- and 79-year-olds have been amended on p. 6.

  17. Added current leaflet explaining the extended vaccination programme.

  18. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Vaccination against shingles guide

HTML

Vaccination against shingles guide (print version)

PDF, 1.2 MB, 12 pages

Shingles vaccination invite postcard (print version)

Ref: S23PC02

PDF, 180 KB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@ukhsa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Shingles vaccination postcard (print version)

Ref: S23PC03

PDF, 1 MB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@ukhsa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This guide explains:

  • what shingles is and how you get it
  • how the vaccine works to protect eligible people from shingles
  • when and how to get the vaccine

The shingles vaccination postcard is suitable for all shingles vaccination settings including GP practices.

The details of the vaccination appointment and address of the GP practice can be added to the back of the postcard and it can then be sent out to eligible patients to invite them to attend their appointment.

Paper copies of the English version, product code 2213689EN001 of this leaflet are free to order or download.

Accessible versions of the previous version of the main leaflet are available to order and download in: Audio, BSL, Braille and Large Print.

Translations of this leaflet are available in: Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Farsi, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Romanian, Romany, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu and Yoruba.

Record cards

Record cards for the 2-dose programme are available to order (product code S23RC01). They are available in packs of 25.

Shingles vaccination stickers

Stickers for the shingles programme are available to order (product code S23ST04).

Shingles vaccination invitation postcards

There are 2 designs of postcards available. One is birthday themed and the second one is linked to the new leaflet artwork. Each postcard has an empty section for you to add the name and address of the eligible patient and post to them to remind them about making an appointment for their shingles vaccinations. They can be used for the first or second Shingrix vaccine. To order the postcards use product code S23PC02 and product code S23PC03.

Find public health resources

Find this resource on www.gov.uk/publichealthresources where you can view, download or order resources free of charge.

Alternatively, you can get in touch by phone or email.

Please have the product code with you when you contact us.

Email publichealthresources@ukhsa.gov.uk

Contact form https://www.gov.uk/gui...

Telephone: 0300 123 1002

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm

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