In the UK, it seems that only people over 65 (and people over 50 with HIV, blood cancer, transplant or severely weakened immune system) can get it. There might be other ways, but I won’t fight the system for that. At least for now 
(for the context: I’m 31yo)
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I take 500mg valacyclovir prophylactically every day as part of my ‘stack’
You can get it privately at the same places that do holiday vaccines (e.g. yellow fever)
Most do not offer it:
- Travel Clinic London | Vaccinations & Advice | eMed Clinic | eMed UK
- https://www.harleyhealthcentre.com/travel-vaccinations
- Travel Clinic Services
- https://www.citydoc.org.uk/clinics/clapham-north
- Murrays Travel Clinic - Your Local Travel Vaccine Clinic
- London Vaccination Clinic | Shingles Travel Vaccine
The only one I found offering it says: “Safe and efficacious vaccines are accessible through private channels for individuals aged 50 and above, as they are not covered by the NHS immunization program.” Shingles Vaccination | London Travel Clinic
Were you able to get it somewhere else?
Also, I’m just curious: Is there any country where the shingles vaccine is recommended to travel?
I’ve taken a course of chickenpox vaccines, recently instead of shingrix.
I had contracted chickenpox as a kid but these vaccines weren’t around then. But I took them assuming that they may confer some of the protective benefits of shingles vaccine until I am able to get me some shingrix.
Not long ago pop star Justin Bieber, 29, made headlines when he canceled an international tour after part of his face became paralyzed due to complications from shingles, an infection caused by the chickenpox virus and thought to affect only older adults. But the truth is, anyone can get shingles, and there’s some evidence that cases are increasing among adults under 50.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/shingles-common-young-people-under-50
It’s literally a virus hiding in nerve cells, and it’s associated (or stronger) with alzheimer’s, you can’t make this up.
It is increasing over time, and note there is only about double the rate for 50-59 yr old vs. 30-39 yr old.
(from Shingles Facts and Stats | Shingles (Herpes Zoster) | CDC)
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Thanks, this is very convincing.
Also, the lifetime risk is 33% (US CDC) and “one in five people with shingles will get post-herpetic neuralgia […] Many people with post-herpetic neuralgia make a full recovery within a year. But symptoms occasionally last for several years or may be permanent.” (UK NHS). The US CDC recommends vaccination for all immunocompromised adults (vs only > 50 in many other countries).
So the case for shingles vaccination is very strong. Even more so for those taking rapamycin?
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Do they offer it to people younger than 50? (I’ve just emailed them to ask but in case you know already)
I just Google searched “shingles vaccine near me”. I don’t know about this one, but usually private don’t worry about age as much as the NHS who are rationing resources at where it’ll be most effective.
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Yes but in the EU (and therefore the UK as it was before Brexit), Zostavax and Shingrix were only approved in adults above 50 (Shingrix was also approved “from the age of 18 years and over in adults who are at increased risk of herpes zoster”).
I asked my doctor (in the US) about the shingles vaccine. I was told currently it was not available until age 50.
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The optimal schedule for protection according to a vaccine clinic I’ve used is:
- Newer Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, protects against 20 variants (Prevnar 20), T-cell immunity, long-term
- 8 weeks later older Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, protects against 23 variants (Pneumovax 23), no T-cell immunity, to boost response to common protected variants.
The other order isn’t recommended.
CDC says it isn’t necessary, but I wonder if it’s optimal to follow up with the polysaccharide vaccine, this link also seemingly on all decision paths depending on which vaccine, what time, etc… No clue how they figured this out. 
seems complicated.
Based pfizer.
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So, the optimal vaccines for longevity are:
- Seasonal flu shots (yearly)
- Shingles vaccine (once?)
- pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) (once?)
Am I missing any others?
A lot suggests covid hits a lot of bad aging pathways
This Lancet paper just out today is an example of hundreds of papers
SARS-CoV-2 infection as a cause of neurodegeneration
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(24)00178-9/abstract
Full paper here
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Its available from India for around 8500 rupees ($102 US), but I suspect it needs refrigeration (not sure how well it would travel from India or if it would spoil).
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So here’s the dea-lio, since I just turned 66
… many vaccine shots mentioned would not be covered by insurance… unless you’re at least 60 some 65 years old, meaning you want it… under 65… it is out of your pocket.
So, since covered by insurance, in January, I ended up getting shingrex, which is 2 shots. They cost a total of $600. The pneumonia shot was about $400. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) … another $350. I was floored almost $1,400 for the 4 shots at the local grocery store/pharmacy.
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If you went to India to get those shots, you could probably get them all for $20 with a few months supply of Rapamycin thrown in to boot! 
J/K. I don’t know the Indian prices. But, I’ll investigate Hong Kong which is cheaper but not as cheap.
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To be clear, you’re saying the amount the pharmacy billed was a total of $1,400 – but I assume since you are insured you paid nothing. I was under the impression that the Affordable Care Act requires requires most plans to cover any vaccine recommended by the CDC.
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I would do all the vaccines recommended in at least one developed country: Vaccines for longevity - #25 by adssx
So for each vaccine, follow the more “pro vaccine” guideline.
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