GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has received approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to sell a new, ready-to-use syringe version of Shingrix, their vaccine for preventing shingles. Previously, Shingrix came in two separate vials that had to be mixed by healthcare workers before giving the shot. The new prefilled syringe is much easier to use because it’s already prepared and ready for injection. This change is meant to make vaccinations simpler and more convenient for doctors, nurses, and patients alike.
GSK first introduced Shingrix in Japan in 2018 for adults aged 50 and older, and in 2023, the vaccine was approved for adults aged 18 and older who are at higher risk of shingles. In Japan, about 1.1 million people develop shingles every year. The risk of getting shingles increases with age and in people with weaker immune systems, such as those with certain illnesses or who are taking medications that affect their immunity.
Sanjay Gurunathan, who leads GSK’s research and development for vaccines and infectious diseases, shared his thoughts on the new syringe: ‘Shingles is a disease that affects 1 out of every 3 adults worldwide at some point in their lives. It can lead to serious and long-lasting complications, which is why prevention is so important. We’re happy to help healthcare workers in Japan by making the vaccine easier to administer.’
GSK has already launched the prefilled syringe version of Shingrix in the United States in February 2026 and is now bringing it to Europe this year. The approval for the new syringe in Japan is based on scientific data that confirms it works just as well as the original two-vial version. There are no changes to how the vaccine is used—patients still receive the same dosage and follow the same schedule.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus stays in your body in a dormant or inactive state. More than 90% of adults carry this virus without knowing it. If the virus reactivates later in life, it causes shingles, which usually appears as a painful, blistering rash on one side of the body. Up to 30% of people who get shingles will develop post-herpetic neuralgia, a type of nerve pain that can last for months or even years after the rash clears up.
Shingrix works by combining a specific part of the virus called glycoprotein E with an immune-boosting ingredient called AS01B. This combination helps the vaccine work effectively even in older adults, whose immune systems naturally weaken as they age. It is important to note that Shingrix does not prevent chickenpox, as it is only designed to protect against shingles.