51²è¹Ý

The recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)

In February 2024, based on risk equivalence analysis, the JCVI advised that the national shingles vaccination programme be changed so that Shingrix® is offered to severely immunosuppressed individuals aged 18 years old and over. JCVI concluded that the risk of hospitalisation in younger immunosuppressed age groups from shingles or resulting post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) was similar to other cohorts who were already eligible for vaccination. JCVI advised that this group should be considered for vaccination based on their equivalent risk.

Vaccine supply

Shingrix® vaccine to support the expansion of the severely immunosuppressed cohort will be the same product that is already supplied via the for the routine shingles vaccination programme.  Providers are encouraged to order stock as part of their routine vaccine orders in advance, to ensure that they have stock available ahead of implementation on 1 September 2025. See the ImmForm helpsheet for information on registering for an ImmForm account. Providers are asked to make sure that local stocks of vaccine are rotated in fridges so that wastage is minimised. It is recommended that providers hold no more than 2 weeks’ worth of stock.

Funding and service arrangements

All routine NHS-funded vaccinations and immunisations are an essential service under the GP Contract. From 1 September 2025, the Shingles vaccination programme will be expanded as set out in this letter. Contractual requirements are set out in the 2025 Standing Financial Entitlements and agreed with GPCE as part of the 2025/26 contractual changes.

Practices will be required to undertake call/recall for patients in the severely immunosuppressed cohort as they become eligible for the programme.

Practices will need to administer Shingrix® (2-dose schedule) to patients, the second dose is to be administered 8 weeks to 6 months after the first dose. Eligible patients who do not receive the second dose within six months, however, can still receive the second vaccine later, there is no need to start again.

Accurate and timely recording of all vaccines given, and good management of all associated documentation, is essential as per the standards set out in the GMS Regulations and Statement of Financial Entitlement (SFE).

Funding will be part of the annual Public Health Allocation to regional commissioners for dissemination locally, as required

Shingrix® can be co-administered with other vaccines, including seasonal and routine vaccines, and should be offered opportunistically at other vaccination appointments when clinically appropriate.  Unlike influenza vaccination, Shingles vaccination is not a seasonal vaccination and should be offered year-round. Please refer to the Shingles Green Book chapter for more information.

Vaccine uptake for severely immunosuppressed patients in the 12 month period from September 2023 to August 2024

In total, 148,407 of the total 885,657 (16.8%) of severely immunosuppressed patients eligible for Shingrix were recorded as having received the first dose to 23 July 2024. Uptake varied by commissioning region, and was the highest in North East and Yorkshire (18.2%) and lowest in London (12.4%). Shingrix® vaccine uptake report (adults eligible from September 2023 to May 2024 and vaccinated to the end of July 2024): England.

Vaccine coverage data collection

Dose 1 and dose 2 coverage of the Shingrix® vaccination will be collected. GP practice-level shingles vaccine coverage will be based on data automatically uploaded via participating GP IT suppliers to the ImmForm website (a website used by UKHSA and NHS to collect data on vaccine coverage and provide vaccine ordering facilities for the NHS) on a quarterly basis.

From September 2025 data will be collected on the following:

Denominator:

The number of individuals aged 18 years old and over (no upper age limit) registered at a GP practice who have a SNOMED code that indicates their severely immunosuppressed status.

Numerator:

The number of individuals aged 18 years old and over (no upper age limit) registered at a GP practice who have a SNOMED code that indicates their severely immunosuppressed status, and have the following SNOMED codes for Shingrix® vaccination:

(a) 39756611000001109, 39655511000001105, 38737511000001105 or 38736811000001106 (vaccine product codes)

(b) 1326101000000105 (indicating receipt of first dose of a shingles vaccine)

(c) 1326111000000107 (indicating receipt of second dose of a shingles vaccine). The data will be validated and analysed by UKHSA to check data completeness, identify and query any anomalous results and describe epidemiological trends.

Annual reports of shingles vaccine uptake are available on 51²è¹Ý.

Patient Group Directions (PGDs)

An updated Shingrix® PGD template will be produced by UKHSA for NHS England regional teams to authorise for their commissioned services. This will be available from the PGD collection on 51²è¹Ý.

Information and guidance for healthcare practitioners

Detailed clinical guidance on shingles and shingles vaccination contained in chapter 28a Shingles  of Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (the Green Book) will be updated.

Healthcare practitioner information and guidance to support the Shingrix® programme including e-learning and a training slide set will be updated and available on the Shingles vaccination guidance for healthcare practitioners webpage.

Leaflets, posters and resources

Updated patient information materials will be available on the Shingles vaccination programme webpage and to order from the

See Annexe B for further details on health practitioner guidance and patient facing resources to support the change.

Consent

Guidance on informed consent can be found in chapter 2 of the Green Book.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions

Healthcare professionals and those vaccinated are asked to report suspected adverse reactions through the online , by downloading the Yellow Card app or by calling the Yellow Card scheme on 0800 731 6789 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.