Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has launched a public consultation on its draft health technology assessment (HTA) of shingles (herpes zoster) vaccination for adults. 

HIQA undertook this assessment at the request of the Department of Health following a recommendation from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The final assessment will provide advice to the Minister for Health to inform a decision on whether to include shingles vaccination in the adult immunisation schedule in Ireland.

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles causes a painful, blister-like rash. While some people experience severe disease or continue to experience pain for months, or even years, for most people, symptoms normally clear up within a month. While shingles vaccines are available in Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) does not currently provide free vaccination – people must pay to be vaccinated.

The incidence and severity of shingles increases with age, with most cases occurring in people over the age of 50 years. People who are immunocompromised are also at an increased risk of shingles. HIQA assessed shingles vaccination for adults aged 50 years and older, and for those aged 18 years and older who are at increased risk of shingles. 

Dr Conor Teljeur, HIQA’s Chief Scientist, said: “Our assessment found that the shingles vaccine is safe and effective, but the benefit of the vaccine decreases over time. However, at the current vaccine price, adding shingles vaccination to the routine immunisation schedule for the general population aged 50 years and older would not be a good use of HSE resources.”

HIQA has published its draft findings to give members of the public an opportunity to provide feedback on the content. An online survey and details of how to take part in the consultation are available on HIQA’s website. The consultation will remain open until 5pm on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

Following the public consultation, the report will be updated as necessary and a finalised report will be submitted as advice to the Minister for Health, and published on the HIQA website.
Read the draft report and take part in the consultation at www.hiqa.ie. 

Ends. 

Notes to the Editor: 

• Information relating to shingles is available from the HSE, here.
• Herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, is typically recognised by a painful blistering rash on the torso. Shingles is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (commonly known as chickenpox). After varicella infections resolve, the virus remains latent in the body’s nervous system. The virus may reactivate, typically several decades later, resulting in shingles. The most frequent complication of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia, a persistence of chronic pain after the healing of skin lesions.
• Information in relation to the National Immunisation Advisory Committee is available here.
• Shingles can occur at any age, with a lifetime risk of approximately 30% in those who have previously had varicella. You can only get shingles if you have already had chickenpox. You cannot pass shingles to another person, but coming in contact with shingles can cause chickenpox in someone who has never had it before. Older people and people with a medical condition or taking a medicine that can weaken their immune system have a higher risk of shingles.
• Common side effects of the vaccine include pain where the injection was given, tiredness and muscle pain. These reactions are mild and usually resolve within one to two days. Serious harm is rare.
• In addition to the direct health-related burden experienced by patients, shingles and its complications can contribute to significant healthcare costs and resource utilisation as well as indirect costs such as lost work time. 
• HIQA has previously published the following document: Herpes Zoster (shingles) vaccination: Protocol for a health technology assessment.