PEOPLE in their 70s in the South West are being urged to protect themselves against shingles with a free vaccine.

Local GP practices are writing to eligible patients to offer them the vaccination as part of the NHS shingles immunisation campaign for 2017/18, which began on September 1.

By the end of March 2017, 28,817 eligible elderly people across the South West were at risk of developing Shingles due to not being vaccinated, but the NHS is encouraging everyone who is offered the vaccine to take it up.

Dr Julie Yates, Consultant in Public Health and Screening and Immunisation Lead in the South West said: “Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, but you don’t catch shingles from chickenpox. After you have had chickenpox, often as a child, the virus does not go away but instead lies dormant in the nervous system and can reactivate later when the immune system is weakened. This reactivation is called shingles.

“As people get older their immune system naturally weakens which is why those aged 70 and over are more likely to get shingles. Shingles can be very painful and debilitating and because it reactivates in the nervous system, it can lead to nerve pain and other health problems long after the initial rash has disappeared.

“Complications of shingles can also be fatal for around one in 1,000 over-70s who develop the illness which is why it is so important that eligible patients take up the offer from their GP surgery and get vaccinated against the virus.”

Shingles is a very itchy, painful, burning group of blisters caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox (varicella-zoster) virus. The rash commonly affects one area of the body, often the chest, but it can also affect any nerves including those in the face and eyes and can last up to four weeks.

However for some people, pain can persist for several months, or even years, after the rash has disappeared.

Patients who are eligible for the vaccine should receive a letter from their GP surgery.

This will often be offered alongside the annual Flu vaccine, but it does not need to be and may be given at any time between September and August each year.

The NHS encourages eligible patients to speak to their GP practice to arrange to be vaccinated.

Alan Quick