Shingles

For the public
For professionals

Shingles is the reactivation of an infection of a nerve and the area of skin that it serves, resulting in clusters of painful, itchy, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters can burst and turn into sores that eventually crust over and heal. These blisters usually affect an area on one side of the body, most commonly the chest but sometimes also the head, face and eye.

Shingles is caused by the herpes varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Following chickenpox infection, the virus can lie dormant in the nervous tissue but may reappear following reactivation as shingles. It is possible to have shingles more than once.

Most people recover fully, but for some, the pain goes on for several months or even years – this is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).

This is a particularly unpleasant condition with severe burning, throbbing or stabbing nerve pain. The vaccination reduces the risk of getting shingles and PHN. Even if you still get shingles, the symptoms may be much reduced.

The Isle of Man shingles vaccination programme started in 2013 and is offered to those aged 70 – 79 years.

The leaflets and guidance documents below provide more detailed information on the shingles vaccination programme in the Isle of Man. Some documents have been adapted for local use by Public Health Isle of Man with kind permission from UK Health Security Agency.

View the sections below with information for the public and information for professionals.