National Immunisation Program: Changes to shingles vaccination

As of 1 November 2023, the shingles vaccine Shingrix® will replace Zostavax® on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for the prevention of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.

A two-dose course of Shingrix® will be available free for: 

• people aged 65 years and over
• First Nations people aged 50 years and over, and 
• immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over with certain medical conditions:

• haemopoietic stem cell transplant 
• solid organ transplant 
• haematological malignancy 
• advanced or untreated HIV.

For more information about this program change, please see the news item NIP changes to shingles vaccination from 1 November 2023 and shingles program advice.

Program implementation

Vaccination providers will be able to order supplies of Shingrix^® through the usual NIP vaccine ordering channels. Respective state or territory health departments will inform providers when they can start ordering Shingrix^®. Providers can begin administering the vaccine to eligible people from 1 November 2023.

Further information to support the introduction of Shingrix® to the NIP will be made available in the coming weeks. Providers can also get the latest NIP updates by subscribing to this email list.