A Monaghan GP says that the shingles vaccine is important but the cost deters people from it.
Dr Illona Duffy's comments come as the Government is facing mounting pressure to provide a shingles vaccine.
As it stands the vaccine is only available privately at a cost of €300 to €500.
Shingles is caused by a virus called herpes zoster, the same virus that causes chicken pox.
She explained that the issue with shingles is that a proportion of people, especially those who are over 65, tend to be more prone to ending up with chronic pain, due to post-herpetic neuralgia.
This is a form of inflammation of the nerve and can cause severe pain, which affects people's sleep and can last months to years for many people.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan show this morning, Dr Duffy explained the importance of the shingles vaccine.
