FastHeal Clinic · Travel Clinic Woking
Chickenpox and Shingles Vaccine in Woking
Chickenpox vaccine for children from 12 months and adults who never had it. Shingles vaccine privately from age 50. Both available on request.
3 Mercia WalkWoking
Surrey, GU21 6XS
About the service
Chickenpox & Shingles at FastHeal Woking
These two vaccines protect against the same virus at different ends of life. Chickenpox is the first infection, usually in childhood. Shingles is the same virus waking up decades later. Neither vaccine is widely available on the NHS for the people who most often ask us for them, so FastHeal Woking offers both privately.
Chickenpox vaccine
Chickenpox is usually mild in young children, but it is a miserable week, a week off school or nursery, a week off work for a parent, and sometimes worse than that. Skin infections, pneumonia and, rarely, brain inflammation are the complications. It is far more serious in adults, in pregnancy and in anyone with a weakened immune system.
The NHS began adding chickenpox to the routine childhood schedule in 2026, but older children and adults who never caught it are not covered. The vaccine is worth considering for:
- Children who have not had chickenpox and whose parents want to avoid the illness and the disruption
- Teenagers and adults who never had it, particularly healthcare workers, teachers and nursery staff
- Women planning pregnancy who are not immune (the vaccine cannot be given during pregnancy, so it needs doing beforehand)
- Adults who live with someone who is immunosuppressed
- Travellers heading somewhere an outbreak would be a serious problem, such as a long trip or a cruise
Course: two injections, four to eight weeks apart, from 12 months of age. It is a live vaccine, so it is not suitable in pregnancy or for people with significantly weakened immunity. Two doses give around 90 per cent protection against any chickenpox and close to full protection against severe disease.
Not sure if you had it? A blood test can check for immunity before you commit to the course.
Shingles vaccine
Shingles is a painful blistering rash along one nerve, caused by the chickenpox virus reactivating. About one in four people get it at some point, and the risk rises sharply after 50. The rash itself lasts a few weeks. The problem is the nerve pain that can follow it, which in some people persists for months or years and can be severe enough to affect sleep, work and mood. Shingles near the eye can damage sight.
The NHS offers the shingles vaccine from age 65 (or 70, depending on when you were born) and to people over 50 with severely weakened immunity. Anyone aged 50 to 64 without those conditions, and anyone who does not want to wait, can have it privately.
Course: two injections of the non-live shingles vaccine, two to six months apart, from age 50. Protection is over 90 per cent against shingles and against the lingering nerve pain, and lasts for at least ten years on current evidence. Because it is not a live vaccine it is suitable for people with weakened immune systems, which was not true of the older vaccine.
Side effects
Chickenpox vaccine: a sore arm and, in a small number of people, a few chickenpox-like spots a week or two later. Shingles vaccine: a sore arm is common, and tiredness, muscle aches, headache or a mild temperature for a day or two are fairly common after each dose. Plan the shingles jab for a day when you can take it easy afterwards.
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Chickenpox vaccine (per dose) | £75 |
| Shingles vaccine (per dose) | £220 |
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Can adults have the chickenpox vaccine?
Yes, at any age, provided they are not pregnant or significantly immunosuppressed. Adults who never had chickenpox get a rougher illness than children, so it is worth doing.
Can I get the shingles vaccine at 55?
Privately, yes. The NHS programme starts at 65 for most people.
I have already had shingles. Should I still be vaccinated?
Yes. Shingles can recur, and the vaccine reduces the chance of a second episode. Wait until the rash has fully healed.
Is the shingles vaccine safe if I have had chemotherapy?
The current shingles vaccine is not live, so it is suitable for most people with weakened immunity. We check your history at the consultation.
Can my child have chickenpox vaccine with other jabs?
Yes. It can be given alongside most routine and travel vaccines. If it is not given on the same day as MMR, a four-week gap is needed.
Visit our Woking clinic
Step inside our calm, modern clinic on Woking High Street and you'll find a friendly team ready to help. Our private consultation rooms and welcoming clinic environment mean you'll always feel comfortable and well looked after.
- Modern, welcoming clinic environment
- Private consultation rooms
- Friendly, qualified clinicians on hand
- Convenient Woking High Street location
Book your appointment
Both vaccines are available on request; call ahead so we can make sure stock is ready for you.