When no news is not good news: Shingrix Vaccination

February 24, 2025 | Advocacy, News

Recently, Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand (MSNZ) wrote to Pharmac to express our immense disappointment with their Health Technologies Assessment (HTA) process, the treatment funding assessment process, and the impact this is having on the MS community.

The varicella zoster virus, more commonly known as Shingles, is a viral infection which causes a painful rash and can occur anywhere on your body. Caused by the same virus as chickenpox, it stays in your body for the rest of your life. If reactivated as shingles, it can be very painful, but not life threatening. Vaccination can help lower the risk, shorten infection and reduce changes of complication.

In 2023, Pharmac approved the Shingrix vaccine for those aged 65. It also allowed earlier access for some immunocompromised people.

MS is an immune-mediated condition and the highest efficacy treatments used are either highly or mildly immunocompromising. While being immunocompromised doesn’t increase your risk of Shingles, people with MS may be more:

• at risk of experiencing severe complications from viruses, develop infections and require hospitalisation of shingles than the general population, more so if on a DMT.
• prone to nerve pain and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) as a result of a shingles infection.

• In February 2024, MSNZ wrote to Pharmac with the support of clinical experts. Collectively we urged inclusion of MS in the conditions approved for early access to the Shingrix vaccine for shingles, or at a minimum those on immunocompromising treatments.
• In April 2024 Pharmac announced a widening of access for some immunocompromised people from 1 July, 2024. Again, MS was not on this list, but other immunocompromised groups were still under review.
• In July 2024 we were advised that this review was still ongoing.

12 months since our initial letter, we have again been informed the review is still underway and there are no developments.

For most disease modifying therapies (DMTs) it is necessary to have a range of vaccinations prior to starting treatment, Shingrix being one of these. While some have fortunately been able to get funding through their DHB, others are having to self-fund $600-850+, or forced to ‘choose’ not to be vaccinated.

Disappointing Progress

MSNZ is astounded that this seemingly easy decision is taking an inordinate amount of time and become unnecessarily complicated. We have written again to the Pharmac Board to alert them to these ongoing delays. We have urged the Board to instruct Pharmac to expedite the funding of Shingrix® for patients with MS.

We will continue to keep you informed as we hear more and continue to advocate for the needs of people affected by MS.

Your Voice Matters

Please share your story with us of why funding Shingrix for people with MS is so important so we can share these with Pharmac. You may have paid hundreds of dollars, or made the choice not to be vaccinated, or have had shingles and be able to share your experience. Your story counts, so please tell us at: https://msnz.org.nz/contact/

Photo by Ed Us on Unsplash