NHS Lanarkshire appointments available for those eligible for shingles vaccine

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Lanarkshire locals who are eligible have started to receive appointments for their shingles vaccine. Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it.

It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.Those eligible for the vaccine include anyone aged 71 to 79 who has not previously had the vaccine or with a severely weakened immune system aged 50 or over.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Anyone about to start immunosuppressive therapy aged 50 or over or who has received a stem cell transplant and are aged 10 or over or who has or is having CAR-T therapy and are aged 19 or over are also eligible.You are also eligible for the free shingles vaccine if you were aged 70 or 65 on September 1, 2023.

This excludes people who were aged 66 to 69 on this date.Dr Veronica Rainey, Associate Medical Director, South Lanarkshire University Health & Social Care Partnership, said: “Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and it can lie inactive after you recover from chickenpox.