N.L. expanding free shingles vaccine to all residents over 50 by September

The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced it's expanding accessibility to the free shingles vaccine to people 50 and older by September, but will start with making it available to immunocompromised seniors on June 1.

Premier John Hogan made the announcement on Thursday, following through on a promise he first made during his campaign for Liberal leadership last month.

In a news release, the Department of Health and Community Services said that immunocompromised residents between the ages of 50 and 64 will be able to access the vaccine on June 1, with every other resident over 50 years old gaining access on Sept. 1.

The province currently offers the vaccine to seniors who are 65 and older, and to those older than 70 and are immunocompromised. In March, then interim 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 chickenpox 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, but estimates show making the vaccine available to everyone over 50 could cost around $30 million.

At the time, Progressive Conservative health critic Barry Petten called it a political move.

This week in the House of Assembly, the party wanted to make sure Hogan would stick to his word.

During question period inside the House of Assembly on Monday, PC Leader Tony Wakeham asked several times if Hogan would expand the vaccine's availability.

Howell and deputy premier Siobhan Coady answered in place of Hogan the first three times the question was asked. 

Hogan answered the fourth time around. 

"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 2025-26 provincial budget was passed in the House.

Howell told reporters the government was able to make the announcement once it knew the amount of vaccine that was needed to make the expansion happen.

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