Shingles Vaccine in Point Cook
Shingles happens when the chickenpox virus wakes up again, often decades after the original infection, and the nerve pain it leaves behind can last for months. Point Cook Doctors gives the shingles vaccine in Point Cook as a two-dose course of Shingrix, and many older adults can now have both doses free.
What shingles does
About 1 in 3 people develop shingles at some point, according to healthdirect. It usually starts with tingling or burning on one side of the body, followed a few days later by a blistering rash along a nerve. Risk rises with age. If you think you have shingles now, book promptly: antiviral medicine works best when it is started within 3 days of the rash appearing.
Who can have it free
Under the National Immunisation Program, a 2-dose course of Shingrix is free for:
- anyone aged 65 or older
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over
- adults aged 18 and over whose medical condition or treatment puts them at higher risk
The current rules are listed on the health.gov.au shingles page.
Recommended, but not always funded
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends shingles vaccination more widely than the free groups, including for everyone aged 50 and over, and for people aged 50 and over who share a home with someone whose immune system is weakened. If you fall outside the funded groups you can still be vaccinated, but you pay for the vaccine. Reception can tell you the current private cost.
Getting the shingles vaccine in Point Cook
Shingrix is not a live vaccine, so it is suitable for people with a weakened immune system. The two doses are spaced:
- 2 to 6 months apart for most healthy adults
- 1 to 2 months apart for people who are immunocompromised
Both doses are needed for full protection. Bring a list of your medicines, particularly anything that affects immunity, and note the due date for dose two when you have dose one. Shingrix can be given at the same visit as other non-live vaccines, so older patients often combine it with the pneumococcal vaccine or a flu vaccine.
If you had Zostavax before
Zostavax was the older, live shingles vaccine. If you received a free Zostavax dose through the NIP, free Shingrix becomes available 5 years after that dose. If you paid for Zostavax privately, you can have free Shingrix as soon as you meet the eligibility rules. Either way, allow at least 12 months between Zostavax and your first Shingrix dose.
After the injection
Side effects tend to appear 1 to 3 days after vaccination and pass within a couple of days. The common ones are a sore, red or swollen arm, tiredness, muscle aches, headache, fever and an upset stomach. Serious reactions are rare. Call 000 for difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat. The immunisation page explains what happens on the day for every vaccine we give.
To book, call (03) 7300 7780 or book online.
Common questions
I have already had shingles. Should I still be vaccinated?
You can be. The Handbook suggests people with a healthy immune system wait at least 12 months after an episode before having a zoster vaccine, so the GP will work the timing out from when your rash appeared.
Can I have shingles more than once?
Most people only get it once, but repeat episodes do happen, especially in people with a weakened immune system.
How do I check whether I have already had a dose?
Vaccines given in Australia are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register. You can view your statement in your Medicare online account, or the GP can look it up at your appointment.
Will I be charged for the visit?
Standard consultations are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card. See Patient Info and Fees for the billing policy, or ask reception before you come in.
Good to know
Before your appointment
If you are a new patient, please arrive at least five minutes before your consultation and bring:
- Photo ID
- A valid Medicare card
Fees and billing
We offer bulk billing to all patients with a valid Medicare card for standard consultations. All procedures are subject to fees.