Should the shingles vaccine be free for all adults? We asked 5 experts
Experts are debating whether the shingles vaccine should be provided free of charge to all adults, given a rise in reported cases among younger people. While one expert supports expansion, four others advise against it, citing current eligibility criteria.
Why it matters
Public health policy decisions regarding vaccine subsidies have significant implications for healthcare budgets and the prevention of viral diseases in aging populations.
Lambert and Young/Getty Should the shingles vaccine be free for all adults? We asked 5 experts Published: August 9, 2026 4:11pm EDT https://theconversation.com/should-the-shingles-vaccine-be-free-for-all-adults-we-asked-5-experts-288496 https://theconversation.com/should-the-shingles-vaccine-be-free-for-all-adults-we-asked-5-experts-288496 Link copied Share article Share article
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Shingles (herpes zoster) is often thought of as an older person’s disease.
But in the past two decades , we’ve seen a rise in reported cases of this viral disease – which causes a painful, blistering rash and nerve pain – among younger adults aged 25–49.
To what extent this represents a real rise in cases, or just increased reporting, is not clear. Some people with shingles may not even see a doctor.
Shingles is a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox (varicella zoster). After a chickenpox infection, the virus lies dormant in nerve tissue and can reactivate after many years. This can happen more than once.
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