Shingles & the shingles vaccine · DundeeShingles vaccine in Dundee Tayside & FifeShingles is a painful, blistering rash that can leave nerve pain for months. Two doses of Shingrix prevent around 9 in 10 cases. Book it with OUR GP in Dundee for £250 per dose, with a GP check first and no referral needed.Book your shingles vaccineCall 07857 761328Think you have shingles now? A rash near the eye, or a weakened immune system, needs a doctor the same day. Call 999 if someone is very drowsy, confused or has a fit.Shingrix £250 per doseNo GP referral neededSame & next-day appointmentsShingles rashes seen quickly1What is shingles?2Signs to look for3The vaccine4Who is at risk5Your appointment6How to help7Get help now8FAQs Medically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Roslan, MBChB, DGM, MRCGP · GP & Clinical Educator · GMC 7446695OUR GP Dundee · Last reviewed November 2026GMC-registered GPsShingrix in stockAntivirals started earlyRegulated by HISStart hereWhat shingles is, and why the vaccine mattersShingles is the chickenpox virus waking up again. It causes a painful rash on one side of the body or face, and for some people, nerve pain that lasts long after the rash has gone.After you have had chickenpox, the virus (varicella zoster) stays asleep in your nerves for life. Decades later, usually when the body’s defences are lower because of age, illness or medicines, it can travel along a single nerve and break out as shingles. About 1 in 4 people get it, and the risk and severity rise steeply with age.The most common complication is post-herpetic neuralgia: burning or stabbing pain that carries on for three months or more after the rash heals. Around 1 in 10 people in their early 60s get it after shingles, rising to about 1 in 5 in their late 70s and half of those over 85. That is why prevention is so worthwhile: the Shingrix vaccine is not live, and two doses give strong protection for at least ten years.It affects one sideA band or strip of rash on the chest, back, tummy or face, stopping at the middle of the body.Pain often comes firstTingling, burning or stabbing pain for a few days before any rash appears.It isn’t caught from othersBut blister fluid can give chickenpox to someone who has never had it.It can be preventedTwo doses of Shingrix cut the risk of shingles and its long-term nerve pain.Back to top ↑Signs to look forWhat shingles looks and feels likeShingles usually follows a clear pattern. If you notice several of these on one side of your body, it is worth getting checked early.Tingling, burning or stabbing pain in one patch of skin, a few days before any rashA red rash on one side that turns into clusters of small fluid-filled blistersA band or strip of rash around the chest, back or tummy, or on one side of the faceItching, or skin so sensitive that clothes or a breeze hurtHeadache, tiredness or feeling generally unwell, sometimes a temperatureBlisters that burst and crust over in about 7 to 10 daysA rash on the forehead, eyelid or tip of the nose (this can affect the eye)A rash in or around the ear with face drooping, dizziness or hearing lossHow long is it catching? You are infectious to people who have never had chickenpox until every blister has crusted over, usually about 7 days after the rash starts. Until then, keep away from pregnant women, newborn babies and anyone with a weakened immune system.Back to top ↑The shingles vaccineThe shingles vaccine at OUR GP, DundeeWe use Shingrix, the vaccine used across the UK since 2023. It is not live and is given as two injections into the upper arm. Book with us, a GP checks it is right for you, and we arrange your second dose.RouteWho it is for and what to expectWho it is forAdults aged 50 and over, and adults 18 and over at higher risk of shingles, for example if your immune system is weakened by illness or medicines. If you are about to start immune-suppressing treatment, ideally start the course a month before.Price£250 per dose, £500 for the full course. No referral needed.Your appointmentA GP checks your health, medicines and any past reactions, gives the first dose and books your second. You stay for a short while afterwards as a routine precaution.Dose timingTwo doses, usually 2 to 6 months apart. If your immune system is weak, the second dose can be given from 8 weeks. If the second dose is delayed, you don’t need to start again.How well it worksIn the main trials two doses prevented about 97% of shingles in people aged 50 to 69 and 91% in those over 70. Long-term follow-up shows protection of around 72% to 84% 6 to 11 years later. No booster is currently recommended.Side effectsA sore, red or swollen arm, tiredness, muscle aches, headache, chills, a temperature or an upset stomach are common and usually pass in 1 to 3 days. Serious allergic reactions are rare.Who is more at risk of shinglesAnyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles, but it is more likely, and often more severe, if you:are over 50, and especially over 70have a weakened immune system from illness such as leukaemia, lymphoma or HIVare having chemotherapy, radiotherapy or have had a transplanttake steroids, methotrexate, biologics, JAK inhibitors or other immune-suppressing medicineshave lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetesare under a lot of physical stress, for example a recent serious illnessThe vaccine is not a treatment for shingles. If you have had shingles, wait until the rash and symptoms have settled before being vaccinated. Having had shingles once does not stop it coming back.Back to top ↑Your appointmentWhat happens when you see usWhether you need the vaccine or think you have shingles now, the aim is the same: the right care, quickly, explained clearly.Check the rash, eye and earWe look at where the rash is and how widely it has spread, and check for eye, ear or nerve involvement that needs urgent care.Start antivirals if they will helpAciclovir, valaciclovir or famciclovir, ideally within 3 days of the rash, especially if you are over 50, the pain or rash is moderate to severe, or your immune system is weak.Treat the pain properlySimple painkillers for mild pain, and nerve-pain medicines if the pain is severe or carries on after the rash.Vaccinate, or plan itFor the vaccine, a GP checks your history and medicines, gives the first dose and books the second. After shingles, we advise when to have it.Back to top ↑How to helpLooking after shingles at homeMost people recover in 2 to 4 weeks. These steps ease the pain, help the skin heal and protect people around you.Get seen earlyAntiviral tablets work best when started within 3 days of the rash appearing.Ease the painParacetamol, or ibuprofen if it is safe for you. A cool damp cloth on the skin can soothe it.Keep the rash clean and dryDon’t scratch. Avoid antibiotic creams and sticky plasters, which can delay healing.Wear loose clothingLoose cotton clothes, and a loose non-stick cover over blisters that are still weeping.Protect othersUntil the blisters crust, avoid pregnant women, newborns and people with weak immunity. Stay off work or school if the rash weeps and can’t be covered.Don’t shareWash your hands often and don’t share towels, flannels or clothes.Shingles and the shingles vaccineDownload our shingles leafletA free two-page guide to shingles and the shingles vaccine for patients, families and carers: signs, home care, when to get help, and our shingles vaccine.PDF · 2 pages · A4 · 228 KBDownload leaflet (PDF)Open to printBack to top ↑Get help nowWhen it can’t waitCall 999 if someone with shinglesis very drowsy or confused, has a severe headache with a stiff neck, has a fit, develops new weakness on one side or slurred speech, or is struggling to breathe.Contact a GP the same day ifthe rash is near the eye or on the tip of the nose, the eye is red or painful or your vision changes; your face droops or the ear is affected; you have a weakened immune system or are pregnant; the rash is spreading widely; the pain is severe; or the skin looks infected.A private appointment at OUR GP is usually available the same or next day. Out of hours, call NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑FAQsCommon questions about shingles and the vaccineHow much is the private shingles vaccine in Dundee?At OUR GP the Shingrix vaccine costs £250 per dose. You need two doses, so the full course is £500. A GP checks the vaccine is suitable for you before it is given, and no referral is needed.Who can have the shingles vaccine at OUR GP?Adults aged 50 and over, and adults 18 and over at higher risk of shingles, such as people with a weakened immune system. A GP checks the vaccine is suitable for you at your appointment.Can I get shingles after being vaccinated?It is much less likely. Two doses prevented about 9 in 10 cases in trials, and if shingles does happen it tends to be milder, with less risk of long-term nerve pain.How long does the vaccine protect you for?Follow-up of the original trials shows good protection for at least 10 to 11 years after two doses. A booster is not currently recommended.I’ve already had shingles. Should I still have the vaccine?Yes. Shingles can come back. Wait until the rash and symptoms have fully settled. If you have had two or more episodes within a year, see a GP first, as you may need tests of your immune system.Is the shingles vaccine live? Can it give me shingles?No. Shingrix is a recombinant (non-live) vaccine, so it cannot cause shingles or chickenpox, and it is safe for people with a weakened immune system. It does not contain gelatine.What if I miss my second dose?Have it as soon as you can. A longer gap does not mean starting again; the first dose is not repeated.I had Zostavax years ago. Do I need Shingrix?Zostavax was the older live vaccine used in the UK until 2023. Protection from it fades over time. Shingrix can be given after Zostavax, and it is recommended if you later develop a severely weakened immune system. Ask a GP whether it is right for you.Worried right now?If someone with shingles is very drowsy, confused, has a fit or a severe headache with a stiff neck, call 999. For a rash near the eye, book a same-day GP appointment or call NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑EvidenceWhere this information comes fromThis page follows UK national guidance on shingles vaccination and primary care management of shingles, checked in October 2026.UKHSA. Shingles (herpes zoster): the Green Book, chapter 28a (August 2025)NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Shingles (revised January 2026)BMJ Best Practice: Herpes zoster infectionShingrix patient information leaflet (GSK, February 2026)Back to top ↑Book your shingles vaccine in DundeeShingrix £250 per dose, £500 for the full course. Or book a same-day GP appointment if you think you have shingles now.Book an appointmentWhatsApp 07857 761328This page is general information and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. What’s appropriate is a clinical decision made with a GP at your appointment. OUR GP is a trading name of SRS Health Group Limited, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. All doctors hold a licence to practise with the General Medical Council. Meet our team. We see patients from Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife. More questions? See our FAQs.