New guidance from Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is available – on the Gov.uk website ttps://www.gov.uk/government/publica
JCVI advise a catch-up of 60 to 70 year olds that should be implemented in stages, starting with vaccination of those turning 65 and 70 years old for 5 years, then moving to vaccination of those turning 60 and 65 years old for 5 years, following which time vaccination could then be routinely offered to those turning 60 years old. The advice was based on the high efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of Shingrix® observed in clinical trials. Evidence suggests that Shingrix® provides a substantially longer duration of protection from shingles than Zostavax®.
The changes to the programme should be implemented from 1 September 2023 including the offer of Shingrix® to all newly eligible cohorts and the change to eligibility.
For the immunocompromised, the earliest eligible age will move down to 50 years and the eligible cohort will include all those aged 50 years and over (that is, for the immunocompromised cohort there is no upper age limit).
For the immunocompetent, the change to the eligible age will be implemented in a phased manner, in 2 5-year stages.
During stage 1 (1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028) Shingrix® will be offered to those turning 70 and 65 years on or after 1 September 2023. Individuals will remain eligible until their 80th birthday. Anyone aged 65 to 69 before 1 September 2023 will not be eligible for shingles vaccination until they turn 70 years of age.
Zostavax® will be offered to persons aged between 70 to 79 that were eligible for the vaccination programme before 1 September 2023. Once all stocks of Zostavax® are exhausted, these individuals can be offered Shingrix® if they have not previously been given a shingles vaccine.
During stage 2 (1 September 2028 to 31 August 2033) Shingrix® will be offered to those turning 65 and 60 years of age. From 1 September 2033 and thereafter, Shingrix® will be offered routinely at age 60 years. Those who have been previously eligible ( in stages 1 and 2) will remain eligible until their 80th birthday. This is set out in the Immunocompetent patients – timeline for the phased implementation of the change to eligible age table.
The practice will be inviting all eligible patients