Shingles Awareness Week 2026

Shingles Awareness Week (SAW) 2026, taking place from 23 February to 1 March, aims to raise awareness of shingles as a vaccine-preventable disease and to encourage informed action across Canada. As the population ages, herpes zoster (shingles) represents a growing public health concern, particularly for adults aged 50 and older, who face the highest risk and burden of disease. Shingles can lead to significant complications, including bacterial skin infections, postherpetic neuralgia, and, in some cases, hearing or vision impacts.

Through this campaign, the International Federation on Ageing seeks to strengthen understanding of shingles risk and the importance of prevention, including vaccination, while supporting individuals, communities, and stakeholders to engage and take action. Shingles Awareness Week 2026 also aims to advance tangible steps to improve access, uptake, and equity in shingles vaccination across Canada, including progress toward public funding in all provinces and territories aligned with National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations.

Looking for more information? Visit our Shingles Awareness Week 2025 resources!

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