Shingles

If you’re turning 65, or are aged 70-79, or are 50 and over, with a weakened immune system, you’re likely to be eligible for a free shingles vaccination. Shingles is an unpleasant illness that can have serious complications, and vaccination improves outcomes and reduces the severity of any outbreak. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/shingles-vaccine/ If you have children, they receive free vaccination against common, vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination helps prevent serious outcomes for children who catch illnesses such as meningitis, mumps, German measles, diphtheria and tetanus. Serious complications can include:

· Blindness

· Encephalitis (an infection that causes the brain to swell)

· Epiglottitis

· Meningitis

· Deafness

· Severe diarrhoea and related dehydration

· Ear infections

· Severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia

· Paralysis

· Death