The painful reality of shingles exposed

Some of Australia’s most well-known personalities are sharing their personal experiences with shingles to raise awareness about the condition, urging Australians aged 50 and over to understand their risk during Shingles Awareness Week (24 February – 2 March 2025).

New research commissioned by GSK Australia has revealed limited awareness among older Australians. A survey of 600 people aged 50-79 found that more than a third (36%) were unaware that one in three Australians will develop shingles in their lifetime. Additionally, over a quarter (26%) did not believe adults over 50 were at risk.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus – the same virus responsible for chickenpox. While its symptoms vary, shingles can be a painful and potentially debilitating condition, with long-term consequences such as nerve pain and vision impairment.

Starting September 2024, access to the free shingles vaccination, Shingrix, under the NIP expanded to include individuals at moderate to high risk of severe infection and complications.

To dispel misconceptions about shingles, well-known journalist Shelly Horton and AFL legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico have joined news presenter Deborah Knight as ambassadors for Shingles Awareness Week, sharing their firsthand experiences with the disease.

“I experienced shingles during a very stressful time of my life. A huge spread of tiny blisters appeared on my right inner thigh, which left me in excruciating pain, and I felt completely debilitated,” said Horton.

For Dipper, shingles was unlike any of his injuries on the football field. He said, “Compared to the pain of many of my sporting injuries, shingles was relentless. It put me out of action for nine days.”

According to Monika Boogs, CEO of Painaustralia, many people who develop shingles describe the pain as among the worst they have ever endured.

“Shingles is often more than just a rash. The pain from shingles can disrupt sleep, mood, work and daily activities and impact quality of life. For some people, it can cause long-term issues with eyesight or chronic nerve pain leading to long-term discomfort,” said Boogs.

Last year the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) received reports of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) – a rare immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks nerve cells – following Shingrix vaccination. Following an investigation and consultation with an expert panel, the Product Information (PI) and Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) for Shingrix were updated to acknowledge GBS as a very rare adverse event.

Professor Tony Cunningham, Director of the Centre for Virus Research (WIMR) and Vaccine Theme Leader at Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute at the University of Sydney, urged Australians over 50 to take their shingles risk seriously, even if they don’t recall having chickenpox.

“As you get older, there is a decline in your immune system that can leave you susceptible to the reactivation of this virus, which causes shingles,” said Professor Cunningham. “Shingles Awareness Week is an important reminder to understand the symptoms and your risk, especially if you are aged 50 and over.”

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