(Quebec) The Quebec government announced on Monday that free shingles vaccination for Quebecers aged 80 and over and immunocompromised people aged 18 and over will be available next month.
The free vaccination of certain seniors against shingles was provided for in the last budget presented to the National Assembly by the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard. The minister then specified that his government planned to devote 124.6 million over five years to offer the free vaccine against shingles to 800,000 people.
The vaccine will be offered in the vaccination centers of the health network as well as in several pharmacies. A tour of CHSLDs by vaccination teams is also planned.
The program could be improved over the next few years to broaden the age groups that can benefit from the free shingles vaccine.
The vaccination includes two doses of the inactivated shingles vaccine. Its effectiveness in preventing shingles is about 90% in all age groups, with long-term protection of about 10 years.
Appointments will be possible in a few weeks, on Click Health.
The National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ) reports that there are 27,000 cases of shingles each year in Quebec, which leads to 600 hospitalizations.
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, points out that shingles is a major health problem that presents sometimes very serious complications and pain that can last for several months or even years.
