Letter: S

Purpose and outline

Since 1 September 2023, the Shingles Vaccination programme is changing to offer Shingrix from 60 years of age. This is being undertaken in a phased approach over a 2 stage 10-year implementation period. From 1 September 2025, immunocompetent individuals turning 65 years will become eligible together with those who were previously eligible and have not yet been vaccinated who are turning either 66 or 67. 

Immunocompetent individuals 70 to 79 years who have not received shingles vaccine before are eligible and they remain so up to their 80th birthday. The 2nd dose should be offered at 6 to 12 months and should be completed before the 81st birthday.

Severely immunocompromised individuals aged 18 years and over who have not received any Shingrix shingles vaccine before are eligible for 2 doses of Shingrix vaccine. The 2nd dose should be given 8 weeks to 6 months after the 1st dose for this cohort. There is no upper age limit, individuals should be offered vaccine as soon as eligible to provide early protection.

How this service is commissioned and provided

Regions commission this service for GP practices.

2025/26: Information about this service

• Quality service start date: 1 September 2025
• Quality service end date: 31 August 2026
• Payment period: Monthly
• Collection frequency: Monthly
• Manual or automatic entry: Automatic data collection
• Included in data collection: All system suppliers (TPP, Medicus and EMIS)
• System type: Vaccination and Immunisation (V&I)

Service user guides

The below links to user guides describe how to participate, manually enter, and declare achievement for this service:

Viewing, accepting and rejecting a Quality service offered in CQRS National

Manually inputting Achievement data

Declaring an achievement for payment

Page updated: 23 July 2025

Background

The seasonal flu programme is a long-established vaccination programme that is proven to save lives and deliver a cost-effective prevention programme. High levels of flu immunisation is one of the most effective interventions that can be made to reduce harm from flu and pressures on health and social care services during the winter. The annual immunisation programme is a critical element of the system-wide approach for delivering robust and resilient health and care services throughout the year, helping to reduce unplanned hospital admissions and pressure on A&E

Purpose and outline

The seasonal flu programme is a long-established vaccination programme that is proven to save lives and deliver a cost-effective prevention programme. High levels of flu immunisation is one of the most effective interventions that can be made to reduce harm from flu and pressures on health and social care services during the winter. The annual immunisation programme is a critical element of the system-wide approach for delivering robust and resilient health and care services throughout the year, helping to reduce unplanned hospital admissions and pressure on A&E.

For 2025/26, the seasonal flu will continue to allow vaccinations of both General Medical Service (covers General Medical Services (GMS), Personal Medical Services (PMS) and Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) registered patients and Immediately Necessary Treatment (INT) registered patients.

How this service is commissioned and provided

Region’s commission this service for GP practices.

NHS England service specifications

2025/26: Information about this service

• Quality service start date: 01 September 2025
• Quality service end date: 31 March 2026
• Payment period: Monthly
• Collection frequency: Monthly
• Manual or automatic entry: Automatic data collection
• Included in data collection: All system suppliers (TPP, Medicus and Emis)
• System type: Vaccination and Immunisation (V&I)

Service user guides

The below links to user guides describe how to participate, manually enter, and declare achievement for this service:

Viewing, accepting and rejecting a Quality service offered in CQRS National

Manually inputting Achievement data

Declaring an achievement for payment

Page updated: 23 July 2025