Overview
Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in nerve tissue and can reactivate decades later, causing a painful blistering rash along a nerve pathway. Approximately 1 in 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime. The shingles vaccine is a non-live recombinant vaccine that is over 90% effective at preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia across all age groups studied. At Holborn Clinic, we provide the shingles vaccine privately for anyone aged 50 and over — no GP referral needed.