In Quebec, one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime. Since Feb. 1st, people aged 71 and over have been able to receive the vaccine free of charge. But has the age limit been lowered enough, considering that people aged 50 and over are disproportionately affected by shingles?
Shingles is a bit like chickenpox in adults, to put it simply. It’s caused by a virus in the same family as herpes. Shingles causes a lesion on the skin, often on the chest or scalp.
People feel a significant tingling or burning sensation before it becomes visible, says Dr. Paul Poirier, a cardiologist at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute. After 24 to 48 hours, small red bumps appear on the skin.
Across the province, 27,000 cases are reported each year, including nearly 600 hospitalizations and about 10 deaths.
This disease can be quite painful. One in five people will experience neuralgia, that is, nerve pain that can persist. “If I have shingles on my scalp, for example, I can have a hard time combing my hair because it hurts so much. And then there’s the burning pain. It’s hot, it burns, yes, it’s terrible. It can last for months, and even years,” says Dr. Poirier.
More rarely, shingles can lead to muscle paralysis as well as loss of hearing or vision.
Dr. Poirier mentions that immunocompromised individuals aged 50 and over—those with chronic illnesses, particularly lung, heart, or kidney disease—are more likely to develop shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. Individuals aged 65 and over without underlying health conditions also have an increased risk of developing shingles.
A vaccine in high demand, according to the APQ
Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the disease and offers long-term protection of at least 10 years, according to the Ministry of Health. Since 2018, the Quebec Immunization Committee has recommended that the vaccine be offered to all adults aged 50 and over.
Currently, only those aged 71 and over, as well as immunocompromised individuals aged 18 and over, are eligible for free vaccination. For everyone else, it costs approximately $300.
Dominique Massie, executive director of the Quebec Lung Association (APQ), finds this woefully inadequate. “For me, it’s a real farce. It’s not normal that the government doesn’t want to put money into this. It’s too old, 71 years,” she denounces.
She points out that three million Quebecers of all ages live with respiratory illnesses. Most of them are vulnerable to shingles. “It’s crazy how many people are calling us to get this vaccine,” she says. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the money to pay for everyone. But $300 is a lot of money.”
Massie points out that many people will be absent from work due to shingles symptoms. “It causes physical disabilities, it’s awful for your sleep. When you get dressed, when you eat, it causes difficulty, it causes psychological distress for people who have it,” she emphasizes.
Free access to the shingles vaccine varies across Canada, even though the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that all adults aged 50 and over receive the vaccine. In Ontario, for example, people aged 65 to 70 are eligible for the vaccination program.
Among the provinces with the best access is Nova Scotia, which offers it free of charge to those 65 and older. In Prince Edward Island, the government lowered the age of eligibility for shingles vaccination from 60 to 50 in 2024.
—The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews