News
Shingrix uptake spikes following NIP addition
More than 2.5 million Shingrix doses were administered in its first year on the NIP, compared to 97,000 the previous year.
More than 83% of Shingrix doses are administered in general practice.
The addition of varicella virus recombinant vaccine (RZV, sold as Shingrix) to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) has led to a significant spike in uptake.
That is according to new research from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance analysing the vaccine after it replaced Zostavax on the NIP in November 2023.
It reveals that in the first year of the Shingrix program, more than 2.5 million doses were administered to adults aged 65 years and older – 1.5 million first doses, one million second doses, and 3272 third or fourth doses.
That is compared to 177,630 Zostavax and 97,322 Shingrix doses administered in the previous year.
This uptake saw 32.1% of NIP-eligible adults receive at least one Shingrix dose in the program’s first year.
More than 83% of Shingrix doses were administered in general practice.
The research shows that Shingrix uptake was highest for females, adults aged 75–79 years, and in regional and the most socioeconomically advantaged areas.
Conversely, it was lower for people in remote regions and the least advantaged areas.
Researchers concluded that equity gaps in uptake exist in remote and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, and less than half of adults aged 65 years or older have adequate shingles protection.
‘Compared with Zostavax, Shingrix’s superior effectiveness, longer-lasting immunity, suitability for immunocompromised individuals, and expanded eligibility present an opportunity to better protect high-risk groups from shingles and its morbidity,’ they said.
‘Health services and vaccination providers can continue improving protection by promoting Shingrix vaccination among eligible adults through opportunistic vaccination, co-administration with other vaccines and targeted efforts to support equitable access.’
They said public health strategies must be created to maximise the benefits of the Shingrix program.
A two-dose course of Shingrix is available on the NIP for:
- people aged 65 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
- people aged 18 years and over considered at increased risk of herpes zoster due to an underlying condition and/or immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive treatments.
Log in below to join the conversation.
National Immunisation Program NIP shingles Shingrix Zostavax
newsGP weekly poll
How supportive are you of private health insurers funding additional general practice services that are not currently covered by Medicare?