Shingles disrupts life, yet half of ageing Indians with chronic conditions don’t talk about prevention with their doctors1

Mumbai: A new global survey, launched ahead of Shingles Action Week (23 February – 1 March 2026) highlights the significant impact of shingles on adults aged 50 and above living with certain chronic health conditions in India, and reveals major gaps in prevention-related conversations. The survey, commissioned by GSK, shows that 43% of Indian participants who have had shingles reported severe, day-disrupting pain^#, with over one in three reporting that it stopped them from working or attending social events.¹ Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Cardiovascular disease (CVD) experienced the greatest disruption, while diabetes and CVD patients reported the highest emotional toll.¹

Shingles is a painful and impairing disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox.^{3 4} As people age, the strength of the immune system response to infection decreases, increasing the risk of developing shingles.^{5 6}  Shingles typically begins as a rash on one side, with painful blisters erupting on the chest, abdomen or face. ^{# 31} Shingles can be prevented only through vaccination.⁷

The survey also highlights that despite being at risk of shingles and its complications, nearly one in four participants with certain chronic health conditions, know little to nothing about shingles and nearly one in three are unable to explain how their chronic condition may increase their risk of shingles.¹

This points to why conversations around shingles are often missing from routine visits among older adults living with certain chronic conditions. Nearly 75% of Indian participants aged 50 years and above with certain chronic health conditions report visiting their doctor regularly, yet nearly half (48%) say they have never discussed shingles with a doctor.1 Respondents living with diabetes (49%) and CVD (37%) are the least likely to have discussed shingles with their doctors.¹

The findings of the survey also point to misconceptions that may be holding back patients from taking action. Nearly one in five participants believe that their chronic condition does not affect their immune system or increase their risk of shingles, while over a third assume that good chronic disease management alone protects them from the infection.1 This lack of perceived risk is reflected in the experience of those who developed shingles, with over one in four (26%) saying they did not expect shingles to be so serious¹.

Dr. Shalini Menon, Executive Vice President – Medical Affairs, GSK India , said: "India is living longer but not necessarily healthier⁸ As people age, they are more likely to be affected by non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney diseases and lung disease.^{9 10 11} These conditions place additional strain on an already weakening immune system of ageing adults, further impairing the body’s ability to fight infections.^{12 13 14 15 16 17}Yet the survey reveals limited awareness about the link between chronic conditions and immune health among ageing adults. This underscores an urgent and growing need for patients to have regular, informed conversations with their doctors."

This absence of prevention-focused dialogue is especially concerning at a time when global ageing trends are already reshaping the shingles burden. Global data from Japan, which has a large ageing population, illustrates the scale of the challenge ahead. In 2020, Japan's adults aged 65 and above accounted for nearly 29% of its population, a demographic shift that coincided with a more than 50% rise in shingles cases across that population.¹⁸ The growing public health impact led Japan to incorporate shingles vaccination in its immunisation protocols in certain provinces, targeting elderly individuals aged 65 and older.^{19 20}

India is on a similar demographic trajectory. The country's population aged over 60, currently estimated at 153 million, is expected to more than double to 347 million by 2050.²¹ This ageing shift is already being reflected in the country's health profile. More than 75 million older adults are living with at least one chronic condition, while 27% are managing multiple long-term illnesses,² including diabetes (~20%) and cardiovascular diseases (29%).^{22 23} Together, advancing age and chronic disease are set to place a rapidly growing number of Indians at an elevated risk of shingles.²⁴

Beyond health outcomes, the convergence of ageing and chronic disease carries economic implications for India's USD 5 trillion growth ambition.^{25 26 27 28}. These lead to healthcare costs, productivity losses and long-term care needs.²⁹ which are avoidable. With healthcare expenses largely out-of-pocket and with more than three-fourths of ageing adults (~78%) without pension or financial protection,³⁰ the burden falls heavily on families.

As India prepares for an ageing population, shifting from reactive care to prevention must become a national priority. The survey findings demonstrate the need to make adult vaccinations including shingles a routine part of adult health discussions, especially for those living with chronic conditions. As the survey shows, hearing about shingles from a doctor (38%) or from someone they know who had the condition (41%) was essential for the respondents to start more informed conversations about risk, prevention, and the potential impact of shingles on everyday life.¹ These conversations can help reduce avoidable suffering, protect quality of life, and ease the long-term burden on the healthcare system.

Click here for Shingles Action Week 2026 Survey Infographic

About shingles

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox.^{31 32} By the age of 50, most adults will have the VZV dormant in their nervous system, which may reactivate with advancing age³³ causing shingles. Shingles typically presents as a rash, with painful blisters erupting on the chest, abdomen or face.³¹ The pain is often described as aching, burning, stabbing or shock-like.^{# 31} Following the rash, a person can also experience post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a long-lasting nerve pain that can last weeks or months and can occasionally persist for several years.³¹ PHN is the most common complication of shingles, occurring in 5-30% of all shingles cases depending on the individual's age.³⁴ Shingles may also affect the eyes, with loss of vision occurring in rare cases and may also be linked with complications such as heart attack or stroke.^{31 35 36 37}

About Shingles Action Week 2026

Commissioned in 2022, Shingles Awareness Week has helped bring shingles to the forefront of India's public health discourse, positioning it among important vaccine-preventable diseases affecting ageing adults. Importantly, it has also contributed to advancing adult vaccination as a broader preventive healthcare priority in a landscape traditionally focused on childhood immunisation. After four years of raising awareness, Shingles Awareness Week has evolved into Shingles Action Week, shifting the focus from awareness to mobilising action. By closing knowledge gaps, highlighting the disruption shingles can cause to everyday life, and inspiring proactive conversations between patients and their healthcare professionals, Shingles Action Week is designed to reframe shingles as a relevant and urgent health priority, particularly for adults aged 50 and over with certain chronic health conditions.

Shingles Action Week 2026 Global Survey

The Shingles Action Week 2026 global survey was conducted by Human8, on behalf of GSK. The online research surveyed 6,103 adults aged 50-70 years, living with certain chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) / asthma. It was carried out across 10 countries (India, Japan, China, Australia, Germany, Poland, France, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Austria) in eight languages. In India, the sample size comprised of 752 respondents.

Data was collected via 15 questions relating to recognition of risk factors, perceived disruption to daily life, experiences of shingles, as well as the frequency and drivers of patient – HCP conversations about the disease. Participants committed to full transparency regarding data monitoring and the use of their anonymised data.

About GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited is a subsidiary of GSK plc, a science-led global healthcare company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Visit www.gsk-India.com for more information.

For further information, please contact:
carson.a.dalton@gsk.com
farah.a.bookwala@gsk.com

# Individual patients' symptoms of Shingles may vary. These statements are based on some patients' description of their shingles pain and do not represent every patient's experience.

Disclaimer: A public awareness initiative by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 030, India. Information appearing in this material is for general awareness only. Nothing contained in material constitutes medical advice. Please consult your doctor for medical advice or any question or concern you may have regarding your condition. Please consult your doctor for the complete list of vaccine-preventable diseases and the complete vaccination schedule for each disease. The views and opinions of the Health Care Professional in this material are their own and does not reflect those of GSK. © [February 2026] GSK group of companies or its licensor. All scientific information is validated, for details write to us on askus@gsk.com.
CL Code: DoP

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