SUBSIDIES AND MEDISAVE COVERAGE FOR SHINGLES VACCINE

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will extend subsidies and MediSave usage for the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, for eligible Singaporeans and Permanent Residents at public healthcare institutions and General Practitioner (GP) clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).

2.               Shingrix is a recombinant herpes zoster vaccine and the only vaccine currently registered with the Health Sciences Authority for the prevention of shingles. At the original price proposed by the manufacturer, the vaccine was previously not cost-effective for the prevention of shingles at the population level. Following further discussions between MOH and the vaccine manufacturer, both parties have now agreed on a reduced price that is commensurate with the vaccine’s benefits.

3.               The Drug Advisory Committee and Expert Committee on Immunisation have reviewed the vaccine and have recommended its inclusion in the Subsidised Vaccine List and National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS). Under the NAIS, all persons aged 60 years and above, as well as immunocompromised adults aged 18 to 59 years, are recommended to receive the vaccine to reduce the risk of shingles and related complications. MOH has accepted their recommendations.

4.               From September 2025, eligible Singaporeans and Permanent Residents can enjoy means-tested subsidies of up to 75% at CHAS GP clinics, polyclinics and MOH-funded long-term care institutions. Seniors from the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation are eligible for additional subsidies in the outpatient setting. After subsidies, Singaporeans can expect to pay around $75 to $300 per course of Shingrix (i.e. two doses), and Permanent Residents can expect to pay around $450 per course.

5.               From 2026, MediSave can be used to pay for cost of the vaccine after subsidies, across the abovementioned settings. More details will be provided closer to implementation date.