Free Shingles Vaccine for Seniors in 2025
Netherlands, Thursday, 22 May 2025.
Starting 2025, seniors over 60 can receive free herpes zoster vaccinations to prevent shingles, aiming to ease healthcare demands and enhance senior living standards.
Expanded Access and Implementation
The implementation of this groundbreaking healthcare initiative will commence on June 1, 2025, marking a significant expansion in preventive care for seniors [1]. The program will utilize Shingrix® as the primary vaccine, requiring a two-dose schedule with varying intervals depending on patients’ immune status [3]. For immunocompromised individuals, the dosing interval will range from 8 weeks to 6 months, while immunocompetent patients will follow a different schedule, ensuring optimal protection against herpes zoster [3].
Health Impact and Prevention
The importance of this vaccination program is underscored by recent epidemiological data showing that herpes zoster can cause severe complications, including postherpetic neuralgia, which may persist for months or years [2]. Research has demonstrated that zoster vaccines can reduce the incidence of herpes zoster by 51.3% and postherpetic neuralgia by 66.5% [3]. Even more compelling are recent findings suggesting broader health benefits, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular events [3].
Cognitive Health Benefits
A groundbreaking study published in Nature in May 2025 has revealed additional benefits of herpes zoster vaccination. The research demonstrates a 20% relative reduction in new dementia diagnoses over a seven-year period among vaccinated individuals [4]. This finding is further supported by an Australian study showing a 1.8 percentage point decrease in new dementia diagnoses among those eligible for vaccination [5], suggesting that the program’s benefits extend beyond immediate shingles prevention.