Starting on September 1, 2025, the NHS in the UK is expanding who can get the shingles vaccine. The program now includes all adults aged 18 and older who have a very weak immune system. This change aims to protect about 300,000 more people from the painful and serious problems shingles can cause.

This decision came from a group of experts called the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). They found that younger adults with weak immune systems face a similar risk of getting so sick from shingles that they need to go to the hospital, just like older adults who were already getting the vaccine.

Dr. Amanda Doyle from NHS England says the vaccine is safe and works well. She explains that it greatly lowers the chance of getting shingles and becoming seriously ill. She encourages anyone who is now eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible, even if they have had shingles before, since you can get it more than once.

Who Is Now Eligible for Shingles Vaccine?

Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox, and it can cause a very painful rash. For most people, it's not a serious illness, but it can lead to problems like long-lasting nerve pain, eye issues, or even more serious infections like pneumonia.

The new group of people who can get the vaccine includes those with conditions like leukemia or lymphoma, or those going through chemotherapy. These individuals are at a much higher risk of getting very sick if they get shingles. The NHS will start contacting eligible patients soon, but you can also book an appointment through your doctor's office.

How Long Does Shingles Vaccine Work?

According to the Harvard Health, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults aged 50 and older get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles. A 2024 study by Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at how well this vaccine works over time, and the results are very promising.

The study, which included almost two million people, found that the two-dose vaccine was still 73% effective at preventing shingles four years later. This shows that the vaccine provides long-lasting protection.

However, the study also highlighted the importance of getting both doses. People who only received one dose saw their protection drop quickly after the first year, with the vaccine being only 52% effective after three years. This makes it clear why getting the second shot is so important.

What If You're Late for the Second Shot?

If you miss the recommended two-to-six-month window for your second dose, don't worry—it's not too late. The study found that delaying the second dose beyond six months did not make the vaccine less effective. You should get your second dose as soon as you can to ensure you have full, long-lasting protection.

The study also found that the vaccine worked slightly better for people who got their shots before age 65 compared to those who were vaccinated later in life.

When Do You Need Shingles Shot?

Different countries have different guidelines, while CDC recommends people above 50 get vaccinated as well as adults aged 19 and older who have a weakened immune system should also get two doses to protect themselves.

In the UK, the shingles vaccine, called Shingrix, was previously given to people aged 65 to 79 and those with a very weak immune system who were 50 or older. However, following advice from a group of experts, this is changing.

Starting next week, all adults aged 18 and over with a very weak immune system will be able to get the vaccine. This is because the experts found that these younger adults face the same high risk of severe illness or long-lasting nerve pain from shingles as the groups who were already eligible.

From January next year, parents in England and Wales will have one less health worry on their checklist. The NHS is rolling out the chickenpox vaccine for free to all young children. Administered in two doses at 12 and 18 months, the jab will be paired with the existing MMR vaccine that already shields kids from measles, mumps and rubella.

The move also comes with a catch-up programme for slightly older children, ensuring no one misses out. It is a win not just for health but also for households and the economy, with chickenpox costing the UK around £24 million annually in lost workdays and productivity.

What is Chickenpox?

The virus behind it is the varicella-zoster, which spreads faster than playground gossip. It triggers an itchy rash, dotted with small blisters and often accompanied by fever, fatigue and general misery.

The rash, however, shows up 10 to 21 days after exposure and lasts about a week. And you can spread the virus even before the rash is evident and until every blister has dried out. That means kids can be carriers long before anyone realises.

Also Read: 'RFK Is Weaponizing Public Health': White House Sacks US CDC Director Susan Monarez Amid Vaccine Cuts

Why the Vaccine is a Game-Changer

For most children, chickenpox is unpleasant but manageable. But in some cases, the virus does not play fair. Pregnant women, very young babies and adults are especially vulnerable. Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), bacterial infections, and in rare instances, even stroke. It sounds dramatic because it can be.

And let us not forget the dreaded shingles. Once you have had chickenpox, the virus hibernates in your nerve cells, waiting for years to reactivate. When it does, it emerges as shingles, a painful and sometimes long-lasting condition that haunts adults. By vaccinating children, the NHS is not just preventing itchy rashes; it is reducing future risks of shingles too.

Symptoms Worth Spotting

Chickenpox has a very distinct three stages:

• Red bumps called papules make their debut.
• Those bumps turn into fluid-filled blisters, which eventually burst.
• Scabs form and healing begins.

To complicate matters, new spots appear over several days, so your child may look like they are juggling different skin stages at once.

Who is at Risk?

Anyone who has not had chickenpox or the vaccine is fair game. The risk is higher for people working in schools, nurseries or any place where germs travel in packs. The virus can spread through direct contact with the rash or even via droplets from a cough or sneeze.

But if you have been vaccinated and still catch chickenpox, the symptoms are typically much milder: fewer blisters, less fever and a quicker recovery.

Complications That Keep Doctors on Their Toes

While chickenpox is usually mild, the potential complications are no joke. These include:

• Infected skin or bloodstream
• Dehydration
• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Reye’s syndrome (when children take aspirin during infection)

Such risks say why the vaccine is not just a convenience but a lifesaver.

Tackling Falling Vaccination Rates

The chickenpox announcement also comes at a crucial time. Uptake of existing childhood vaccines in England is slipping. In 2024/25, none hit the 95 per cent target, with MMR uptake hovering at 91.9 per cent among five-year-olds—the lowest since 2010/11. Adding chickenpox protection to the routine schedule could help remind parents of the importance of immunisation.

Why Parents Should Welcome This Move

Chickenpox may sound like a rite of passage, but in reality, it is an unpredictable infection that can disrupt households, put vulnerable people at risk and occasionally turn dangerous. With the vaccine, parents can skip the sleepless nights of itch relief lotions, the endless laundry of pus-stained sheets and the nervous waiting for complications to pass.

A breakfast classic is under fire because nearly 95 people across 14 states have fallen ill from a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs, with 18 ending up in hospital beds.

Country Eggs, based in Lucerne Valley, California, has recalled its large brown cage-free “sunshine yolks” and “omega-3 golden yolks” eggs. The recall covers products sold in California and Nevada between June 16 and July 9, with sell-by dates between July 1 and September 18.

Most of the cases have been reported in California, 73 of the 95 infections, but illnesses have popped up as far away as Minnesota and New York. According to the reports, the reported cases are likely “just the tip of the iceberg”. Why? Because only about one in 30 salmonella infections are officially diagnosed. Many people never see a doctor for food poisoning, and even fewer get tested. If 95 cases are confirmed, there are likely hundreds more lurking under the radar.

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a harmful bacterium that enters the body through undercooked eggs or meat and can cause infection in the digestive system. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps that can show up anywhere between six hours and six days after eating contaminated food. Most people recover in four to seven days, but severe cases can spiral into hospital visits, especially for young children, older adults, or people with weakened immune systems.

Also Read: 1,500-Yr-Old Mystery Unearthed: DNA Study Reveals Cause of the Justinian Plague, World’s First Pandemic

Earlier this year, another egg-related salmonella outbreak sickened 134 people, hospitalised 38, and claimed one life. Eggs are clearly proving to be repeat offenders, which raises a bigger concern: are we doing enough to track foodborne illnesses?

Recently, federal health officials scaled back operations of FoodNet, the system that monitors outbreaks across 10 states. Instead of tracking eight bacteria, FoodNet is now down to just two — salmonella and a type of E. coli. Reports warn that this could make spotting emerging outbreaks slower and communication with the public more difficult.

Should You Bin Your Breakfast?

If you live in California or Nevada, double-check your egg cartons immediately. And if you have already tossed the packaging, you might never know if your eggs are part of the recall. Reports suggest that if you are in a high-risk group, under 5, over 65, or managing a condition like heart disease, it may be safer to just discard them. After all, it only takes a few bites to get sick.

A few smart moves can keep salmonella at bay:

• Cook it through: Runny yolks may look Instagram-worthy, but firm yolks are safer. Chicken should hit 165°F, beef and pork 145°F. Use a food thermometer if you are not sure.
• Wash up: Soap, hot water, and elbow grease every time you touch raw eggs or meat and on all surfaces that came in contact with them.
• Chill quickly: Refrigerate eggs and other perishables within two hours (one hour if it’s sweltering outside). Salmonella thrives in the heat.
• Consider pasteurised: Pasteurised eggs undergo a gentle heating process that kills bacteria without cooking the egg. If you can find them, they’re a safer bet for recipes that use raw eggs.

For centuries, historians and scientists have debated what exactly triggered the Justinian Plague, a catastrophic pandemic that began in 541 AD and ravaged the Byzantine Empire for over two centuries. There were so many theories and guesses but hard biological proof was always missing. Now, the researchers dug into a mass grave in Jerash, an ancient Roman city in present-day Jordan, and uncovered the genetic pathogen: Yersinia pestis, the bacterium infamous for causing plague.

The discovery, published in the journal Genes, finally ties the Justinian Plague to the same microbe that would later fuel the Black Death in mediaeval Europe.

As Dr Rays HY Jiang from the University of South Florida summed up, "This discovery provides the long-sought definitive proof of Y pestis at the epicentre of the Plague of Justinian."

What Was the Justinian Plague?

If you think Covid-19 was disruptive, imagine a pandemic that stretched across centuries. Between 541 and 750 AD, the Justinian Plague killed tens of millions, weakened armies, wrecked economies, and reshaped the Byzantine Empire.

It first appeared in Pelusium, an Egyptian port city, before sweeping through the Eastern Roman Empire like wildfire. The sheer scale of death was so staggering that some historians argue it permanently altered the course of European history. And yet, until recently, no one could prove with certainty what caused it.

“For centuries, we have relied on written accounts describing a devastating disease but lacked any hard biological evidence of the plague's presence. Our findings provide the missing piece of that puzzle,” Dr Jiang explained.

Digging Up the Past, Tooth by Tooth

Archaeologists excavated burial chambers beneath Jerash’s former Roman hippodrome—a structure once used for chariot races and grand public spectacles. There, they discovered human remains from victims of the plague.

"Using targeted ancient DNA techniques, we successfully recovered and sequenced genetic material from eight human teeth excavated from burial chambers beneath the former Roman hippodrome in Jerash, a city just 200 miles from ancient Pelusium,” said Greg O'Corry-Crowe, another author of the study.

The analysis revealed nearly identical strains of Yersinia pestis, meaning the outbreak spread quickly and with devastating impact, just as historical texts described.

From Entertainment Hub to Emergency Cemetery

What makes Jerash especially symbolic is its transformation during the crisis. Once a buzzing trade hub with impressive Roman structures, it suddenly became a burial site.

"Jerash was one of the key cities of the Eastern Roman Empire, a documented trade hub with magnificent structures,” Dr Jiang said.

“That a venue once built for entertainment and civic pride became a mass cemetery in a time of emergency shows how urban centres were very likely overwhelmed.”

It is a sobering reminder of how pandemics can flip the world upside down, turning arenas of joy into sites of despair.

Lessons That Still Matter Today

The Justinian Plague may feel like ancient history, but its echoes reach into our present. Plague has not disappeared; it lingers quietly in the background, occasionally resurfacing.

"We have been wrestling with plague for a few thousand years, and people still die from it today," said Dr Jiang. "Like Covid, it continues to evolve, and containment measures evidently cannot get rid of it. We have to be careful, but the threat will never go away.”

That statement might sound chilling, but it is also a reminder: disease, no matter how old, never truly leaves us. The more we learn from ancient outbreaks, the better prepared we are to face future ones.

What Now?

By decoding the genome of Yersinia pestis from the Justinian era, scientists can better understand how the bacterium has evolved and survived across millennia. It also points out how pandemics have always shaped societies—toppling empires, shifting populations, and altering human history.