Shingles vaccinations
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The shingles vaccine is offered to adults over 65 years old, and those with eligible health conditions. It helps to protect people from shingles (herpes zoster).
We strongly encourage those eligible to take up the vaccination offer.
Shingles can be very painful and is more common among older people. The older you are, the worse it can be. For some, the pain caused by shingles can last for many years.
The risk of shingles and its complications is high for older people and those who have a severely weakened immune system.
The shingles vaccine helps to build up your immunity to the virus. This means if you do get shingles, your body will fight it off more easily.
Important: Eligibility and more information
Whether you can get the shingles vaccine in winter 2025-26 depends on your age and if you have an eligible health condition. You can get the shingles vaccine if you:
- were aged 65 or 70 on 1 September 2025
- or were aged 71 to 79 on 1 September 2025
- or have an eligible health condition
Find out more at NHS inform:
- who can get the shingles vaccine
- how to get the shingles vaccine
- side effects of the shingles vaccine
- about the shingles vaccine you will be offered
- shingles vaccine information in other languages and formats
Important: Vaccination appointments on 15 June public holiday
NHS Highland's Vaccination Service will be open as normal on the World Cup public holiday on Monday 15 June 2026 - all vaccination appointments scheduled on that day will be going ahead. If you have received a vaccination appointment, please attend as invited in your letter, SMS or email.
Community vaccination clinic locations
A location on this map does not always represent a bookable or drop-in clinic there. Clinics will end, can fill up or be cancelled at short notice. Use this map only to find a clinic location if you need it.
You do not need to book at your closest venue if you don't want to wait. If you're able to travel, you can make a vaccination clinic booking at any available venue outside your local area, where capacity allows.
Two doses
You need to have 2 doses of the shingles vaccine for it to be effective.
You’ll be offered your second dose 2 to 12 months after your first dose.
Changes to the shingles vaccination programme (video)
NHS Scotland has started to offer the shingles vaccine to a much larger group of people, to help protect people at an earlier age. We can't do this all at once so it needs to be rolled out on a phased basis over 10 years.
Important: Help by phone or email
Our Service Delivery Centre provides a centralised point of contact for the population of the NHS Highland area, co-ordinating vaccination appointments. The Service Delivery Centre can be contacted to:
- book an appointment
- rearrange an appointment
- cancel an appointment (please let us know so we can offer a place to someone else)
- provide assistance with general vaccination enquiries
When leaving a message by phone or email, please include your name and address (including postcode). One of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please do not send repeated voicemails and emails - we will attend to messages in order. This will help the team to get back to everyone quickly.
Call or email
email nhsh.vaccinationenquiries@nhs.scot
Please use this email address for enquiries whenever possible.
phone 0800 032 0339
Available:
- Monday: 9:15am to 5:00pm
- Tuesday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Wednesday: 9:30am to 5:00pm
- Thursday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
You can leave a voicemail outside these hours with details. The line is closed on public holidays.