I am recovering from shingles (most unpleasant) and my neighbour tried to get the shingles jab and was told....

' It's only for those who are "exactly" 65 or 80 yrs! I've got to wait another 9 yrs, 8 mths & 2 days!! Can you believe it??'

surely this can't be right???

I got mine as soon as I was called to have it (at 65)

You can get one privately if you wish

You can pay to have it done privately, not that expensive.

Yes, thanks, I appreciate private is an option - more interested in people's public health system experiences...

It is the same here, if not in a high risk group (eg immunocompromised) then the shingles vaccine is only available in the public health system in the year you actually turn 65. I queried it at my centro de salud when I went for my flu jab (as I, like you, just missed out when the vaccine was made available to 65 year olds) and they confirmed it.

As the two doses of the vaccine cost €435 in Spain, plus the cost of getting a private prescription and having the jabs administered at a private clinic for those who don't have private health insurance, I wouldn't say it is inexpensive. Sorry you had to contract it, spainrico, I have heard from friends how nasty it is so hope you will be fully recovered soon.

"La vacuna Shingrix para el herpes zóster en España tiene un precio aproximado de 435€ por el ciclo completo de dos dosis (alrededor de €217 de cada uno en farmacias privadas. Está disponible mediante prescripción médica y no está financiada por el Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) para la población general, aunque es gratuita para ciertos grupos de edad y riesgo."

If you have had Shingles recently, then you do have improved immunity (not 100%). I had it about 5 years ago, and it was terrible. It affected my ears and jaw, and only a maximum dose of Tramadol for 5 weeks had any effect on the pain, which was like the worst earache and toothache you could imagine. If it affects your optic nerve, it can permanently blind you in that eye.

If you are eligible for the vaccine, take it.

Thanks for your useful posts and info. I am on the road to recovery... and hopefully improved immunity.

My doctor said I probably got it because my defences are low after my radiotherapy. Fortunately, it was on my stomach and back - not good but better than on the face and near eyes.

OK I think I understand better now who is eligible and I have passed the info onto my neighbour.

Interesting, I hope it also helps if you caught chickenpox in your late 30's rather than at a one-digit age.

Coincidentally, I had been planning to have this jab and yesterday rang my health centre, they asked my age (71) and I have an appointment for next week.

Yes, the Communidad de Madrid has different criteria and their vaccination programme has advanced further towards achieving the vaccination of all those aged between 65 and 80. I've just checked the latest information for Andalucia and they have expanded theirs this year to include those aged 66 and 67 who haven't yet had the vaccine. So I think I'll hold off getting the vaccine privately for this year and see what happens in 2027, or I know what'll happen, I'll pay out €500 and then next year they'll expand the age group again!

¿Qué pacientes pueden recibir la vacuna del herpes zóster en Andalucía? - Plan de Vacunaciones de Andalucía (Andavac)

Yes someone told me the policy varies greatly depending upon communidad..

According to this Catalonia is running out of vaccines and the Basque Country will only give it to 65 year olds.

If you are going to get it done privately, what would be the ideal age to do it (regardless of when gov'ts agree to publicly fund it)?

A quick search shows 50+ and apparently if you wait until you're 70 then it's not as effective. So if you are going to get it anyway and just pay for it by yourself, is there any reason to wait once you're 50+?

Speaking as someone who has been suffering with this damn (am I allowed that?) illness since Feb 12th and still not totally clear, I would advise all to get the jab as soon as you can!

I would add my defences were low following my radiotherapy treatment (another thing to avoid!!), so I was 'susceptible' as my doctor explained.