Painful rash, blisters, and debilitating nerve pain.²

This may be the reality of shingles in your patients.

One in three adults may be affected by shingles in their lifetime.³ It is more common in older people, with those over 70 years being particularly vulnerable to its debilitating complications.^1,4-5

Shingles can strike at any time and can affect a person’s quality of life for months, or even years!^1-3
Vaccination is important for the prevention of shingles and its complications.⁴

It’s time to get a vaccination plan in place to protect your older patients from shingles.

	A single-dose shingles vaccine is available on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for adults aged 70-79 years.6,7*
	Visit Community Immunity for resources to support shingles vaccination in your practice. Use your practice software to identify eligible patients. Recall eligible patients with letters, phone calls and sms reminders. Recommend vaccination to eligible patients visiting for other reasons, like influenza vaccination.
	Start your vaccination plan NOW!

*NIP catch up program for 71–79 year olds is time-limited.

1. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. Herpes Zoster Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.ncirs.edu.au/assets/provider_resources/fact-sheets/herpes-zoster-vaccine-fact-sheet.pdf [Accessed December 2017]. 2. Oxman MN et al. In: Arvin AM et al (EDs). Varicella-Zoster Virus: Virology and Clinical Management 2000: 246-75. 3. Harpaz R et al. MMRW 2008 Jun 6; 57(RR-5):1-30. 4. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Ed (2017 update). Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health, 2017. 5. MacIntyre R et al. PLos ONE 2015; 10(4):e0125025. 6. Department of Health. Immunise Australia Program. National Immunisation Program Schedule. Available at: https://beta.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/immunisation-throughout-life [Accessed March 2018]. 7. ZOSTAVAX Approved Product Information Amended August 2017. 
8. Menzies R et al. Med J Aust 2017; 206(6):238–9.