In our pre Budget submission last year and also in our submission as part of the consultation for the Successor to the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, we called on Ministers to provide the shingles vaccine free of charge to older people. This request is in line with the recommendation of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.
The current cost (in the region of €465+) is a financial barrier that prevents many older people from accessing this protection.
Active Retirement Ireland, representing over 24,000 older people nationwide, is running a petition campaign urging the Department of Health to provide publicly funded shingles vaccination.
The Petition calls on the Minister for Health, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive to:
- Include shingles vaccination for adults aged 65+, free of charge at the point of delivery, in the 2026 National Immunisation Programme.
- Remove cost as a barrier to ensure equitable access for all older people.
- Recognise that prevention reduces GP visits, hospitalisation, and supports independent living and healthy ageing.
- Align with international best practice: the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Australia, and the US provide the vaccine at low or no cost.
We urge members to engage with this campaign.
If you wish to sign the petition, the link is given below.
Protect Older Adults: Make the Shingles Vaccine Free for 65+