The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced it’s expanding accessibility toĀ the free shingles vaccine to people 50 and older by September, but will start with making it available toĀ immunocompromisedĀ seniors on June 1.
Premier John Hogan made the announcement on Thursday, following through on a promise he first made during his campaign forĀ Liberal leadership last month.
In a news release, the Department of Health and Community Services said thatĀ immunocompromised residents between the ages of 50 and 64 will be able to access the vaccine on June 1, with every other residentĀ over 50 years old gaining access on Sept. 1.
The province currently offers the vaccineĀ to seniors who areĀ 65 and older, and to those older than 70 and are immunocompromised. In March, thenĀ interimĀ health minister John Haggie announced the province would increase that access on June 1.
Shingles comes from the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which also causes chickenpoxĀ and can cause rashes and lifelong nerve pain.
Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell told reporters Thursday the province had allocated $8.5 million in this year’s budget to the provincial vaccine program,Ā but estimates show making theĀ vaccine available to everyone over 50 could cost around $30 million.
At theĀ time, Progressive Conservative health critic Barry Petten called it a political move.
This weekĀ in the House of Assembly, the party wanted to make sure Hogan would stick to his word.
During question period insideĀ the House of Assembly on Monday, PC Leader Tony Wakeham asked several times if Hogan would expand theĀ vaccine’s availability.
Howell and deputy premier Siobhan CoadyĀ answered in place of Hogan the first three times the question was asked.Ā
Hogan answered the fourth time around.Ā
“We will deliver vaccines to everybody over the age of 50 for shingles,” he said.
The announced expansion comes three days after that exchange, and just one day after the 2025-26Ā provincial budget was passed in the House.
Howell told reportersĀ the government wasĀ able to make the announcement once itĀ knew the amount of vaccine that was needed to make the expansion happen.
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