Shingles vaccines in Ireland cost at least €450, placing the preventative jab out of reach for many older citizens who face severe health risks from the viral infection, according to Senator Fiona O’Loughlin. Following her own debilitating diagnosis over the summer, O’Loughlin is calling on Government ministers to fund a free vaccine rollout for adults aged 65 and over in the upcoming Budget.
The Debilitating Reality of Shingles Infections
Shingles is a painful viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus—the same pathogen responsible for chickenpox. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life, most commonly after age 50. Senator O’Loughlin described the infection as squeezing the left side of her body like a metal vice grip, accompanied by sudden, violent spasms and sharp jolts of pain comparable to grabbing an electric fence. Despite a high pain threshold following past surgeries from a car accident, she found the condition left her constantly exhausted and frequently bedridden by simple tasks like making a bed.
Financial Barriers and Preventative Healthcare Arguments
While an effective vaccine exists to prevent the illness, the steep out-of-pocket cost of at least €450 means few people avail of the jab. O’Loughlin argued that while the health budget remains finite, preventative healthcare measures require upfront investment to reduce avoidable illnesses, hospitalisations, and long-term costs. Data from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) reveals an average of 285 hospitalisations per year between 2013 and 2022 where shingles was the primary diagnosis, with nearly three-quarters involving individuals aged over 50. During that same ten-year period, acute hospitals across Ireland recorded 54 deaths where shingles was the primary diagnosis.
Did you know?
New evidence from Stanford University suggests that the shingles vaccine could reduce the risk of dementia by 20 percent. The Health Service Executive (HSE) reports that approximately 64,000 people in Ireland currently live with dementia, a figure projected to exceed 150,000 by 2045.
International Comparisons and Policy Demands
Ireland lags behind other jurisdictions in publicly funding the preventative treatment. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) provides the vaccine for free to individuals aged 65 and older, while European nations like Luxembourg also offer free access for older demographics and high-risk groups. O’Loughlin has urged her party colleagues involved in Budget discussions to fund access for anyone aged 65 and over, as well as immunocompromised patients. Having contracted the virus herself, she must wait 12 months before receiving the vaccine, but intends to get it as soon as she is eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes shingles?
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which remains in the nervous system after a person recovers from chickenpox earlier in life.
How much does the shingles vaccine cost in Ireland?
Who is most at risk of severe shingles complications?
HIQA data shows that nearly three-quarters of primary diagnosis hospitalisations for shingles involve individuals aged over 50, placing older adults and immunocompromised patients at the highest risk.
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