RESIDENTS of Shepparton are in for a health boon as the Australian Government rolls out a groundbreaking initiative to offer free protection against shingles. Commenced on November 1, the National Immunisation Program will provide almost five million Australians, including Shepparton locals, with complimentary access to the state-of-the-art Shingrix vaccine, a move hailed as one of the world’s most extensive vaccination programs.
This generous $826.8 million commitment targets individuals at risk of severe shingles, encompassing those aged 65 and above, First Nations people aged 50 and over, and individuals 18 and older with compromised immune systems susceptible to herpes zoster infection.
Shingles, a painful blistering rash resulting from the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, can lead to severe complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia, causing prolonged nerve pain lasting months or even years. With one in five shingles sufferers developing this debilitating condition, the significance of the Shingrix vaccine cannot be overstated.
Replacing Zostavax on the National Immunisation Program, Shingrix offers approximately a decade of protection, a substantial improvement considering the potential cost of up to $560.
For more information, visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website or consult your local doctor.
