Shingles.

Monday, 11 August 2025

Shingles isn’t “just a rash”. It can cause years of pain, permanent eye damage, and it strikes 1 in 3 people in their lifetime.

Thankfully, we now have a highly effective way of protecting ourselves against Shingles and it’s not so lovely complications

Let’s talk about shingles and why Shingrix, the shingles vaccine, is a smart choice for protecting your health

 

What Is Shingles?

f you’ve ever had chickenpox — and that’s likely most people reading this — you already carry the virus that causes shingles. That week you took off school as a kid, covered in spots, wasn’t actually the end of it.

After chickenpox, the virus doesn’t leave your body. It hides quietly in your nerve cells, “asleep” for years or even decades. But at any point, it can wake up and cause the characteristic symptoms of shingles.

Again, 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime.

 

What Does Shingles Look Like?

The first signs are often pain or unusual skin sensations such as tingling, itching, or burning, paired with on-and-off stabbing pain.

You might also have a fever, tiredness, headache, or stomach upset.

Within 1 to 4 days, a rash and fluid-filled blisters appear, usually in a line on one side of the body or face. These blisters are contagious — but they cause chickenpox, not shingles, in people who’ve never had chickenpox.

From the first symptoms to the rash healing completely, it can take 3 to 5 weeks.

 

Possible Complications

Shingles isn’t “just a rash.” It can cause:

• Nerve pain (Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)) - lingering nerve pain lasting months or even years after the rash clears.

  • Affects 1 in 3 people over 40

  • Affects about 50% of people over 70

  • 1 in 5 people experience this pain for over a year

• Eye damage - shingles on the face or around the eyes (10-20% of cases) can cause complications ranging from eye inflammation, to severe vision loss.
• Muscle weakness - about 1 in 20 people develop muscle weakness where the rash was; on the face, this can cause temporary drooping which can take months to resolve.

• Scarring or infection - especially if blisters are scratched.


And there’s more: a 2022 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found shingles increases your risk of heart attack or stroke by nearly 30%.

 

Who’s at Risk?

Anyone who has had chickpox.

Your risk increases if:

• You’re over 50 (your immune system naturally weakens over time as you age, even if you’re otherwise healthy)

• You’re female 
• You have a health condition or take medicines that weaken your immune system

• You’re experiencing sudden stress, illness, or injury — all of which may trigger the virus to wake up


 

How Shingrix Helps

Shingrix is your best defence against shingles and the long-lasting nerve pain (PHN) it can cuase. Think of it like installing extra security in your body — priming your immune system so it can stop the virus from waking and potentially causing significant and lasting damage. 

Here's why more people are choosing Shingrix for protection:

• It’s over 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN in adults 50+

• Stays highly effective even in those 70+ and 80+

• Lasts long-term: after both doses, the protection remains strong years later; no booster doses required.

• Provide better protection, and for longer, compared to the previous Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax).
• Dosing: Two doses, 2 to 6 months apart.

If you do get shingles, antiviral medicines can help reduce severity and speed up recovery — it should be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the rash appearing for the best effect.

 

Who’s Eligible for Funded Shingrix?

In New Zealand, Shingrix (both doses) is free for:

• People in their 65th year (if you have at least your first dose before turning 66)

• Some people starting, or already on, treatment for certain conditions like rheumatoid arthritis

  

Others can still get vaccinated, but may need to pay privately. Unsure if you’re eligible, just ask.

 

Take Charge Before Shingles Strikes

Shingles can strike anyone who’s had chickenpox — bringing pain, complications, and months of disruption. This vaccine strengthens your immune system so you can prevent it, stay healthy, and keep life moving on your terms.

If this sounds like you or someone you care about — or if you’d simply like to learn more — pop into the pharamcy I’d love to have a chat and help answer your questions.

Nick