This vaccine is recommended for all over 50s. I’ve had shingles once and don’t want it again! In France, the only vaccine you can get is Zostavax, which is much less effective than Shingrix, which is the standard vaccine in Germany and the UK. Unfortunately you need 2 doses of it, with a pause of 2-6 months, so you can’t get it while visiting. Does anyone know if it’s available in Spain, which is not far from us? Or speak Spanish well enough to ring a Spanish chemist and ask?
You can get Shingrix here (since last October), but it is not reimbursed at present as haven’t sorted that out yet. It is the on,y one I can have as immune-compromised.
Just ask your doctor to give you a prescription.
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Just to add that, if you do get an ordonnance from the MT for shingles vaccine (of whatever form is permitted) as recommended (my partner did this a few months back) you still may not be able to get it! According to our pharmacie, they have been unable to get any for ages and it seems that it isn’t currently available, with no expected availability date.
My wife asked her MT, who looked in her computer and said Shingrix is not available in France. So who’s right?
if the pharmacist can’t get the medication… 
the Doc is quite right…
}Le 29 février 2024, la Haute Autorité de santé a recommandé l’utilisation préférentielle de ce vaccin contre le zona (par rapport au vaccin Zostavax). Ce vaccin est recommandé chez les adultes immunocompétents à partir de l’âge de 65 ans et chez les personnes immunodéprimées dès l’âge de 18 ans. Vaccin autorisé en Europe depuis le 21 mars 2018 chez les adultes de 50 ans et plus et depuis le 25 août 2020 chez les adultes de 18 ans ou plus présentant un risque accru de zona.
Ce vaccin est commercialisé en France depuis le 2 octobre 2023 mais il n’est pas encore remboursé.}
May not be available in every tiny town, but it is in France. Maybe it’s because I am high risk that I was offered it.
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I’m glad you got it, if you needed it… and perhaps you had the last available stock…
I had shingles over 10 years ago and have been left with Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), so discussed this with my MT who told me that the vaccine in France is a “live” vaccine. So in light of this and not wanting to trigger another episode I decided against having the vaccine
Hmmm, what do they give people who are immunosuppressed, then?
Shingrix!
Have just checked with a good pharmacy and Shingrix, which is a “dead” vaccine, is indeed available in France on prescription, but is not reimbursed by the CPAM. You have to pay the €240 per dose yourself, and need a second dose after 2 to 6 months.
So either wait a bit and see if they come round, or have the first jab on a visit and pay for the second jab here.
But may be by your mutuelle if prescribed