Shingles cases rising, but high vaccine cost limits access
More than 90,000 people in the Netherlands contract shingles each year, a painful viral infection that can lead to lifelong nerve pain. As the population ages rapidly over the next decade, health experts warn that cases will continue to rise, according to NOS.
A highly effective vaccine, Shingrix, is available and provides long-term protection. However, it is not covered by insurance, forcing individuals to pay nearly 400 euros out of pocket for vaccinations through the GGD.
“We see people lose interest when they hear the price,” said Timo Boelsums, an infectious disease specialist at GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond. “But we want to protect as many people as possible.”
Experts estimate that 10 to 25 percent of those infected develop postherpetic neuralgia, a chronic nerve condition that can persist long after the rash disappears.
Peter Belien, who suffered from shingles in 2023, described the pain as unbearable. “It feels like a severe sunburn that never goes away,” he said. “At times, it’s like my ribs are broken. There are better and worse days, but the pain is always there.”
No cure exists. Some patients find relief through medication, but the available treatments—antiepileptics, antidepressants, and opioids such as methadone—carry severe side effects and are not always effective.
Health authorities emphasize that prevention through vaccination is the best option. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom fully reimburse shingles vaccines for seniors. In 2019, the Dutch Health Council recommended free vaccinations for people over 60, but successive governments declined due to high costs.
Despite supporting the vaccine’s effectiveness, the Health Council agreed with the government that covering the expense would not be “cost-effective.”
Chantal Tesson, chair of the foundation Pijn na Gordelroos, disputes this assessment. “Thousands of people develop chronic pain from shingles every year. The costs of pain medication, home care, and medical support are enormous. Vaccination would eliminate many of those expenses.”
Many patients suffering from chronic nerve pain rely on medications that are frequently in short supply. Preventative measures, such as vaccinations, could ease pressure on the healthcare system and reduce dependency on scarce drugs.
Severe nerve pain can also limit mobility, increasing the likelihood that patients will require home care or nursing assistance earlier than expected.
The aging population compounds the urgency. The number of Dutch citizens over 60 is projected to rise by 800,000 in the next 15 years and by nearly 1.5 million by 2070.
Calls for government action are growing. GroenLinks-PvdA MP Julian Bushoff and D66 MP Wieke Paulusma urged Health Secretary Karremans last week to include shingles vaccination in the national immunization program. The upcoming spring budget will determine whether the cabinet is willing to allocate funding.
Tesson stressed the human impact of the government’s decision. “People suffer unbearable pain because they can’t afford a vaccine. Some even choose euthanasia.”
Dutch newspaper Tubantia reported the case of Rob Schutte, a man from Enschede who opted for euthanasia last year due to excruciating nerve pain from shingles. In his final interview, he expressed regret that he did not live 10 kilometers away in Germany, where the vaccine is free. “If I had been vaccinated, I wouldn’t have had this horrible disease.”
