SHINGLES: ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q1: What is shingles? Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it. It usually starts with tingling or burning in an area of skin, and is followed by the eruption of a painful rash, usually on one side of the body or face that takes 2 to 4 weeks to resolve. Sometimes the eye can also be affected. Q2: Why do people develop shingles? Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. After people have chickenpox the virus lies inactive in the nervous system. Later in life the virus can reactivate and cause shingles. The reasons for reactivation aren’t completely known. Reaching an older age or having conditions that affect the immune system make the virus much more likely to reactivate.

SHINGLES: ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q4: I have already had shingles, do I still need the vaccine? Unfortunately some people do get shingles more than once, although the risk is low. Vaccination as part of the national immunisation programme is still recommended for those who have had shingles in the past. Q3: I’ve never had chickenpox, can I still get shingles? You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox. However many people had chickenpox as a child and are unaware of it. The infection can sometimes be so mild that it is nothing but a few spots. Even such a mild infection leaves you at risk of shingles later in life.

SHINGLES: ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q5: What are the long-term effects of shingles? Shingles usually resolves within 4 weeks. However some people go on to develop chronic nerve pain called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). This is an ongoing, severe nerve pain in the area affected by the rash, and is the most common complication of shingles which in some people can go on for months or years. The older you get shingles, the more likely you are to develop PHN. Q6: How would the vaccine benefit me? The vaccine reduces the chances of you developing shingles, and even if you do develop shingles then the disease is likely to affect you less severely.

SHINGLES: ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q7: Why am I eligible under the national programme? The national shingles immunisation programme is recommended to be routinely offered to people aged 70 years. A catch-up programme is also being rolled out in those aged 70-79 years by NHS England, Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health (DH), and is being phased in over a period of time due to both vaccine supply and ensuring a manageable implementation process. Q8: Where can I find more information? For more information about shingles, treatment of shingles and shingles vaccination: Speak to your GP, nurse or other healthcare professional Visit NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/pages/introduction.aspx Visit www.shinglesaware.co.uk