June 2026

New report suggests shingles vaccination supports healthy aging and overall prosperity 

Ottawa, ON - Increasing the shingles vaccination rate among older Canadians could generate significant health, economic and system-wide benefits, helping to close Canada's national productivity gap, according to a new recently published report. "With nearly 40 per cent of adults in Canada now aged 50 and over, healthy aging is becoming increasingly important to sustaining Canada's growth and prosperity," said Eddy Nason, Director of Health at Signal49 Research. "Yet, preventable conditions like shingles undermine healthy aging by disrupting daily functioning, independence, and mental well-being."

These physical and emotional impacts not only damage patients' quality of life but also place measurable strain on both the healthcare system and economy. Shingles increases healthcare demand through greater use of physician services, emergency care, hospitalizations, and medications. At the same time, it reduces productivity through absenteeism and presenteeism as well as limiting participation in valuable unpaid roles such as caregiving and volunteering. 

"With one in three adults expected to experience shingles in their lifetime, vaccination is a critical tool to help protect older Canadians from its painful and disruptive symptoms, and reduce the risk of long-term complications," said Dr. Michelle Horn, Country Medical Director, GSK. "By prioritizing prevention, we not only safeguard individual well-being but can also reduce avoidable demand on healthcare providers and the healthcare system."

In addition to improving health outcomes, higher vaccination uptake could generate substantial system and economic gains. Achieving an 80 per cent shingles vaccination rate among Canadians aged 50 and older could save an estimated $816 million in healthcare costs, while public investment in vaccinations could generate a 1.69 return on investment, driven by improved health and preserved economic participation.

However, uptake remains low, with only 39 per cent of Canadians in this age group vaccinated. Key barriers include out-of-pocket costs, limited awareness, and uneven provincial and territorial public programming. As Canada seeks to support healthy aging and strengthen its economic resilience, expanding equitable access to shingles vaccination represents a practical first step towards a coordinated, national prevention strategy. 

To download the report: healthy-aging-building-economic-resilience

March 2026

National Institute on Ageing new vaccine resource

Toronto, ON - The NIA’s new Provincial and Territorial Vaccine One-Pagers for Adults 65+ (2025/26) make it simple to learn which vaccines are nationally recommended, which vaccines are free, where to get vaccines and you can also learn what’s covered in your province or territory. For more information or to download these one-pagers: https://niageing.ca/provincial-territorial-vaccines

February 2026

National Institute on Ageing releases new shingles report

Toronto, ON - As Canada marks National Shingles Awareness Week, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) released a new report warning that shingles remains a largely overlooked yet preventable health risk for older Canadians. Shingles infections continue to cause unnecessary pain and long-term complications for individuals and avoidable strain on Canada’s health care system.

Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends the recombinant zoster vaccine for adults aged 50 and older, as well as immunocompromised adults aged 18 and older. Despite this recommendation, fewer than four in ten Canadians aged 50 and older have received even a single dose of the shingles vaccine. The new report, The Overlooked Issue of Shingles Infections in Older Canadians and How to Address It, estimates that approximately 130,000 new shingles cases occur in Canada each year. The report also estimates an annual health system impact of approximately $67–82 million, driven primarily by the prevalence of shingles among adults aged 60 and older and its associated complications. 

To download: The Overlooked Issue of Shingles Infections in Older Canadians and How to Address It. (2026)

December 2025

CBoC publishes report on benefits of shingles immunization programs

Toronto, ON - The Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) has recently released an engaging infographic titled “Guarding Health, Driving Productivity,” which underscores the extensive economic benefits of investing in shingles (herpes zoster) immunization programs. This informative infographic was recently unveiled at the Toronto Board of Trade and offers a sneak peek into a comprehensive report set to be published in Q1 2026. The CBoC analysis enhances previous reports on the patient and health-system benefits of this immunization program and introduces a compelling economic perspective. 

According to the analysis, investing in shingles immunization programs can drive significant productivity and economic growth. One of the headline findings reveals that every dollar invested in shingles immunization yields approximately $1.69 in economic benefits. The report quantifies the avoided work-loss days and related wage impacts, comparing the returns of the shingles program with other public health investments. For context, workplace mental health programs are estimated to return around $1.62, and public cardiovascular research returns about $1.21.Other notable findings reveal that coast-to-coast  coverage of Shingrix for adults aged 50+ could generate up to $306 million in additional tax revenue. 

The infographic provides regional and provincial breakdowns as well as patient and target-group details, which will be invaluable for tailored outreach to provincial decision-makers and local coalitions. 

For more information: guarding-health-driving-productivity-2025.pdf