Nearly a million more Brits can get shingles jabs on the NHS from today – are you eligible?

NEARLY a million more Brits will get shingles jabs as the NHS lowers the offer age from 70 to 65.

Health chiefs say the move will save lives and free up NHS time spent treating the infection.

It is caused by the chickenpox virus and can have painful and even deadly effects for older people, including blindness and deafness.

One in five of us get it at some point in our lives but it becomes riskier as we get older.

All over-65s will be eligible for the jab from today, as well as over-50s with weak immune systems – around 900,000 more people.

Dr Mary Ramsay, of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Shingles is an extremely painful condition and complications can be long-lasting. 

“Older people and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable so I’d encourage all those newly eligible from today to come forward.”

NHS England is also changing the HPV vaccination programme for teenagers, reducing it to a one-dose programme.

The vaccines are on course to wipe out cervical cancer completely and reduce other tumours of the genitals and throat.

Studies suggest a single dose of the newer jabs is enough to protect youngsters for life.

Most people pick up HPV from having sex and kids are offered the vaccine at age 12 or 13 to get protected before they are old enough to catch it.

Steve Russell, vaccines director at NHS England, said: “Making these vital changes to two life-saving NHS vaccination programmes will help protect millions of people, prevent disease, and ultimately save lives.”