Shingles vaccine
Private Shingles Vaccination Clinic (Shingrix)
Protect yourself from the pain of shingles. Available now for ages 50+ (and at-risk adults 18+).
While the NHS shingles programme offers excellent protection, strict eligibility criteria mean many adults aged 50–64 and 66–69 are currently left unprotected. At Hampstead Heath Pharmacy, we bridge that gap. We provide the Shingrix vaccine privately, ensuring you don’t have to wait years to protect yourself from this debilitating condition.
Why Choose Our Private Clinic?
- Immediate Availability: No waiting lists. We hold dedicated stock of Shingrix for private patients.
- Wider Eligibility: We vaccinate anyone aged 50 and over, as well as adults 18+ who are at increased risk (e.g., immunocompromised).
- Expert Care: Administered by specialist pharmacists in our regulated clinical environment.
- Face-to-Face Consultation: We review your medical history to ensure safety and suitability before administration.
Cost & Booking
Price: £230 per dose (2 doses required for full protection). Total course cost: £460 (inclusive of all consultation fees).
How to Book:
Click the button below to schedule your appointment.
Select “Non-Travel Vaccination Appointment”.
Choose a time that suits you.
Home visits are available for an additional fee (min £100). Please email info@hhpharmacy.co.uk for a quote.
Am I Missing Out on NHS Cover?
Many of our patients are surprised to learn they fall into an “NHS Gap.” Use this table to check if you need to go private.
| Age / Status | NHS Availability | Private Availability (Us) |
| Aged 50 – 64 | No (Not eligible) | Yes (Recommended) |
| Aged 65 (turning 66) | Yes (Check with GP) | Yes (If you prefer not to wait) |
| Aged 66 – 69 | No (Current NHS “Gap”) | Yes (Available immediately) |
| Aged 70 – 79 | Yes | Yes |
| Immunocompromised (18+) | Yes (Strict criteria apply) | Yes (Broader criteria) |
About the Shingrix Vaccine
What is Shingrix? Shingrix is the modern, non-live shingles vaccine. Unlike the older Zostavax vaccine (which the UK stopped using in 2023), Shingrix is over 90% effective at preventing shingles, even in older adults. Because it is a “non-live” vaccine, it is also safe for people with weakened immune systems.
Dosing Schedule
- Standard: 2 doses, given 2 to 6 months apart.
- Immunocompromised: The second dose can be given sooner (1 to 2 months after the first) if needed.
Why do I need it?
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which lies dormant in your nerves. 1 in 4 people will develop shingles in their lifetime. It causes a painful, blistering rash and can lead to Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN)—severe nerve pain that can last for months or even years after the rash heals.
“Five years later, I still take medicines for pain. My shingles rash quickly developed into open, oozing sores that in only a few days required me to be hospitalised. I could not eat, sleep, or perform even the most minor tasks. It was totally debilitating. The pain still limits my activity levels to this day.”
A 63-year-old harpist who was unable to continue playing due to shingles.
The pain from shingles has been compared to childbirth or passing a kidney stone. It can last for months or years after the rash goes away.
The shingles vaccine can help prevent shingles and its complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the new non-live shingles vaccine be given to immunocompromised individuals?
The new non-live shingles vaccine can be given to people who are immunocompromised. You can still get the new non-live shingles vaccine if you are taking immunosuppressive medication, anticipating immunosuppression, or have recovered from an immunocompromising illness. People who are immunosuppressed, as occurs with leukaemia, lymphoma, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and people who receive immunosuppressive drugs, such as steroids and cancer chemotherapy, are at greater risk of shingles.
Can someone who has had shingles be vaccinated with the new non-live shingles vaccine?
Yes, if you have had shingles, you can get Shingrix to help prevent future outbreaks. There is no specific time you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally, you should wait until the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.
Can the new non-live shingles vaccine be given to people who have already received the old live shingles vaccine? If so, what interval should separate them?
Yes, people who previously received the old shingles vaccine (used by the NHS before Sep 2023), can receive two doses of the new shingles vaccine. The first dose of the new shingles vaccine should be given at least 2 months after the first dose of the old version.
Is there an upper age limit for the receipt of the new non-live shingles vaccine?
There is no upper age limit for either shingles vaccine.
Do you need to have the new non-live shingles vaccine every year?
No, it is a one-off course of two injections.
Can the new non-live shingles vaccine be given at the same time as other vaccines?
Yes, the vaccine can safely be given at the same time or any time before or after other vaccines, including the seasonal flu vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How safe is the new non-live shingles vaccine?
There is good evidence showing that the new shingles vaccine is safe. It is already used in three countries, and no safety concerns have been raised. The vaccine has few side effects.
Review of the initial data from the post-marketing safety surveillance has shown that the safety profile of this vaccine is consistent with that previously observed in pre-licensure clinical trials. Other studies are ongoing and planned to continue generating real-world safety data and further characterise the new non-live shingles vaccine (see the relevant reference here)
Will there be any side effects from the new non-live shingles vaccine?
- Most people had a sore arm.
- Many people had redness and swelling at the injection site (wider than 4 inches in some people).
- Many felt tired, had muscle pain, a headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, or nausea.
Side effects usually go away after 2 to 3 days. Remember that the pain from shingles can last a lifetime, and these side effects should only last a few days.
For the full list of side effects and restrictions with the new shingles vaccine, see the package leaflet.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is growing scientific interest in the wider health benefits of shingles vaccination. Several large-scale observational studies have suggested a link between receiving the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
One theory is that by preventing the reactivation of the virus—which can cause inflammation in the nervous system—the vaccine may help protect long-term brain health. Additionally, because shingles infection is known to temporarily increase the risk of stroke and heart attack, preventing the disease may also support broader cardiovascular health.
Important Note: This potential benefit is currently the subject of ongoing research and is not on the label (i.e., it is not a licensed medical use of the vaccine). Shingrix is authorised solely for the prevention of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. However, many patients find this emerging evidence a compelling additional reason to prioritise their protection.
Shingles
I feel healthy; am I really at risk for shingles?
If you’re one of the 99% of adults over 50 years old who have had chickenpox, the virus that causes shingles is inside your body and can reactivate at any time. It is estimated that around 1 in 4 people will get shingles in their lifetime. No matter how healthy you feel, your immune system declines as you age, and that puts you at an increased risk for shingles.
How do you catch shingles?
Shingles is not caused by exposure to another person with shingles. People with shingles can only possibly cause a susceptible person to develop chickenpox, not shingles.
There is no evidence that shingles can be acquired from another individual who has chickenpox.
What is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)?
After the shingles blisters heal, pain can last for months or years and may be severe. This long-lasting nerve pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN.
Is shingles serious?
Yes, it can be. Not only can shingles be very painful and uncomfortable, some people are left with long-lasting pain called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) for years after the initial rash has healed. Very occasionally, shingles can be fatal.
Shingles, in some cases, can disseminate into the lungs, liver, gut, and brain, leading to pneumonia, hepatitis, and encephalitis. Disseminated shingles is more likely to occur in those who are severely immunocompromised, with a case fatality rate reported to be between 5 and 15%, and most deaths being attributable to pneumonia.
Who is at an increased risk of shingles?
The incidence and the burden of shingles increase with age. The risk of shingles is also increased in individuals with certain conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and Wegener’s granulomatosis.
Cost of vaccinations against shingles with the non-live vaccine: £460 for the full course – 2 doses required 2 months apart (i.e. there is no consultation fees).
To schedule an appointment for the shingles vaccination in our clinic, please book a “Non-Travel Vaccination Appointment” online.
Home visits are available for an additional fee (min £100). Please email info@hhpharmacy.co.uk for a quote.
The deposit paid at the time of
booking an appointment will be deducted from the total service cost when you
visit us, provided you adhere to our cancellation policy.