Finland: Shingles vaccine proposed for the national vaccination program for severely immunocompromised people, elderly
Shingles is a localized blistering skin lesion caused by the chickenpox virus, which can be accompanied by prolonged pain. People with severe immunodeficiency are at higher risk of getting shingles than the general population, and the disease can be particularly severe.
The risk of developing the disease and prolonged pain also increases sharply with age. 40 percent of 85-year-olds have already had shingles at some point in their lives.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is proposing to include the shingles vaccine in the national vaccination program for severely immunocompromised people, i.e. organ and stem cell transplant patients and those with hematological cancer.
In addition, THL proposes age-based shingles vaccinations for everyone over 75 years of age, if the vaccine can be obtained at a reasonable price.
The proposal is based on the recommendations of the expert working group on shingles vaccinations set up by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the National Vaccination Expert Group (KRAR), according to which the burden of disease caused by shingles can be effectively reduced by vaccination.
"The burden of disease caused by shingles is significant for both the individual and the healthcare system. The incidence of shingles in severely immunocompromised people aged 50 and over was estimated to be approximately three times that of the general population," says Heini Salo , a specialist researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare .
Vaccine efficacy studies have found that vaccination effectively prevents shingles even in the elderly, and protection remains at a good level for up to ten years.
“Age-based vaccinations for 75-year-olds were estimated to prevent 6,700 cases of shingles and 480 cases of chronic pain during their lifetime,” Salo adds.
Expert group assesses costs and effectiveness of vaccinations
According to the expert group's report, there were 28,000 shingles cases in Finland in 2023, resulting in healthcare costs of 11.6 million euros. 42 percent of the costs were incurred from specialized medical care. The proportion of shingles cases requiring inpatient care increased with age.
Shingles and the Shingrix vaccine
The costs of vaccinations in the national vaccination program are covered by tax funds and are free of charge and voluntary for recipients.
The retail price of one dose of shingles vaccine is currently 216 euros. Two doses are required for a complete vaccination series. Regarding vaccinations for people aged 75 and over, the working group estimates that the purchase price of the vaccine should be clearly lower than the retail price so that the costs of vaccinations are reasonable in relation to the health benefits achieved.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health makes decisions on which vaccines are included in the national vaccination program, and the Parliament decides on funding. Some welfare areas already offer shingles vaccination to severely immunocompromised people.
"If the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport decides to add shingles vaccinations to the vaccination program and the autumn budget negotiations provide funding for the purchase of vaccines, vaccinations could begin in autumn 2026," says Mia Kontio, a leading expert at THL .