How much is the shingles vaccine? NHS eligibility vs private cost in the UK
“How much is the shingles jab?” is one of the questions we hear most from people in their fifties and early sixties, usually right after a friend or relative has had shingles and described it. The honest answer depends first on whether you can get it free, and the NHS rules on that changed recently. Here’s how it works, and what it costs if you pay.
This is general information, not a personal recommendation. Whether the vaccine is right for you is confirmed at your appointment.
The short answer
- Free on the NHS if you’re turning 65 (on or after 1 September 2023), if you’re aged 70 to 79, or if you’re 18 or over with a severely weakened immune system.
- Privately at MediPill: £240 per dose. The course is two doses, so the full course is £480.
- The NHS offer ends at your 80th birthday for most people. If you have a severely weakened immune system, you can still have it after 80.
- You can get shingles more than once, so the NHS recommends vaccination even if you’ve had it before.
Who gets the shingles vaccine free on the NHS?
The NHS offers the vaccine to people most likely to get shingles, or to get complications from it:
- People turning 65. If you turn 65 on or after 1 September 2023, you become eligible on your 65th birthday.
- Everyone aged 70 to 79. If you turned 65 before 1 September 2023, your eligibility starts at 70 instead.
- Anyone aged 18 or over with a severely weakened immune system, for example some people with blood cancer or HIV, people who’ve recently had a stem cell or organ transplant, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and people on certain medicines that severely weaken the immune system.
Your GP surgery should contact you when you become eligible. If you think you qualify and haven’t heard anything, the NHS advises contacting your surgery.
Why isn’t it given on the NHS after 80?
This is one of the most searched shingles questions, and it catches people out. Under the NHS programme, you stay eligible until your 80th birthday, although you can have your second dose up until your 81st. After that, only people with a severely weakened immune system can get it on the NHS.
So if you’re in your late seventies and haven’t had it, it’s worth contacting your GP surgery now rather than later.
How much does a private shingles vaccine cost?
If you don’t qualify for the NHS vaccine, for example because you’re in your fifties or early sixties and want protection sooner, you can pay for it privately.
At MediPill it’s £240 per dose, and the course is two doses: £480 in total. Each dose includes a consultation with a pharmacist, who checks your medical history, your medicines and any allergies before vaccinating. The second dose is given 2 to 6 months after the first, and you need both for full protection, so it’s worth booking the second dose before you leave the first appointment.
Privately, the vaccine is available for adults aged 50 and over, and for adults aged 18 and over with a weakened immune system. Details and booking are on our shingles vaccine page, where you choose your branch and time.
Is it worth paying for?
That’s a personal decision, and there’s no pressure either way. The NHS explains why it’s offered to older adults: shingles causes a painful rash and can sometimes lead to serious problems such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness, and both getting shingles and having complications become more likely as you get older.
The people who come to us privately usually fall into one of three groups: they’re in their fifties or early sixties and don’t want to wait for the NHS offer, they’ve watched someone close to them go through shingles, or they have a weakened immune system and want to talk through the timing with a pharmacist.
If you’re close to 65, it may make sense to wait for the free NHS vaccine. We’d rather tell you that than sell you a course you’d get free next year.
Who shouldn’t have it, and what to expect
Most people can have the shingles vaccine. The NHS says the only people who can’t are those who’ve had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or an ingredient in the vaccine. If you have a high temperature or feel too unwell to do your normal activities, wait until you’re better.
Side effects are usually mild and settle within 2 or 3 days. The NHS lists swelling, itchiness, bruising or pain where the injection was given, a headache, an aching body, tiredness, a high temperature and shivering. Serious allergic reactions are very rare, and the pharmacist who vaccinates you is trained to treat them straight away.
You can usually have the shingles vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as the flu, COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccines, which is handy in the autumn.
Common questions
How much is the shingles vaccine in the UK? It’s free on the NHS if you’re eligible. Privately at MediPill it’s £240 per dose, and the course is two doses, so £480 in total. Other providers set their own prices.
Is one dose enough? No. The course is two doses, and you need both for full protection.
I’ve already had shingles. Should I still have the vaccine? The NHS says yes: you can get shingles more than once, so it’s important to get vaccinated even if you’ve had it before. A pharmacist can talk through the timing with you.
I’m 64. Should I pay or wait? If you’ll turn 65 soon, you’ll become eligible for the free NHS vaccine on your birthday. Many people in that position decide to wait. If you want it sooner for a particular reason, talk it through with us.
I’m 81 and never had it. Can I still get it? On the NHS, only if you have a severely weakened immune system. Otherwise, ask a pharmacist about private vaccination and whether it’s suitable for you.
Getting vaccinated in Oxford
You can book a private shingles vaccination online through our shingles vaccine page, or ask at any of our branches. Our private vaccinations page covers the other vaccines we offer, and if you’re booking in the autumn, our flu jab guide explains who gets that one free.
Prefer to ask first? Get in touch and a pharmacist will come back to you.
Sources
- Shingles vaccine – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/shingles-vaccine/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
- Shingles – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 23 September 2026 · Next review due: September 2027
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for a consultation. It does not recommend any specific vaccine for you. Suitability is decided at an individual assessment with a pharmacist, and NHS eligibility is confirmed by your GP surgery.
