Not everything that keeps you well comes in a box off the shelf. Some of the most useful things we do at Laois Pharmacy happen quietly in our private consultation room, a quick, professional injection and an honest chat about whether it is actually right for you. Two of those services get asked about almost every week: a vitamin B12 boost, and the shingles vaccine.
This guide, written by our pharmacy team here in Portlaoise, walks through what each one does, who tends to benefit, what it costs, and, in the case of shingles, some genuinely surprising research linking the vaccine to a lower risk of dementia.
The short version
- Vitamin B12 injection, €20 to administer. A newly added service. Good for stubborn tiredness, pins and needles, and anyone whose body struggles to absorb B12 from food.
- Shingles vaccine (Shingrix), €220 per dose plus €20 to administer each dose, given as a two-dose course, so €480 in total. Recommended from age 50.
- Research interest: large studies have linked the shingles vaccine with a lower risk of dementia (an association, not proof).
- Shingles vaccine: no GP appointment needed, you book straight in with us. B12 injections need a prescription from your doctor.
Vitamin B12 injections
Vitamin B12 is one of those quiet workhorses your body cannot do without. It helps make healthy red blood cells, keeps your nervous system working properly, and is part of how your body turns food into energy. You can only get it from animal foods, meat, fish, eggs and dairy, or from supplements, and some people simply cannot absorb enough of it no matter how well they eat.
The signs people notice
Low B12 tends to creep up slowly, so it is easy to put down to a busy life. The usual signs are relentless tiredness, pins and needles or numbness in the hands and feet, brain fog and forgetfulness, a sore or red tongue, feeling breathless, low mood, and looking pale. Because these overlap with so many other things, a simple blood test is the only way to know for sure.
Who is most at risk
You are more likely to run low if you are over 60, follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, take metformin for diabetes or long-term antacids like omeprazole, have pernicious anaemia (an autoimmune condition that blocks B12 absorption), or have a gut condition such as coeliac or Crohn’s disease, or have had weight-loss surgery.
Could you be low on B12?
Tap anything you have noticed lately.
A quick guide, not a diagnosis, a simple blood test confirms low B12.
Why an injection, and how our service works
Tablets work well if the problem is diet. But if the issue is absorption, as it is with pernicious anaemia, gut conditions, or simply older age, an injection is the reliable route, because it goes straight into the muscle and bypasses the gut entirely. Many people also just feel the benefit faster.
At Laois Pharmacy we administer your B12 injection for €20. If you already know you need regular B12, we can keep you topped up on schedule. If you are not sure, we will talk it through and point you toward a blood test first, because it is always worth knowing the cause.
The shingles vaccine
If you had chickenpox as a child, and almost everyone over 50 did, the virus never truly left. It sits dormant in your nerves for decades, and as the immune system naturally weakens with age it can wake back up as shingles: a painful, blistering rash, usually in a band on one side of the body.
Shingles is not just a bad rash. Its most feared complication is post-herpetic neuralgia, burning nerve pain that can linger for months or even years after the rash clears. It can also affect the eye and, rarely, lead to more serious problems. The risk climbs steadily after 50, which is exactly why the vaccine is aimed at that age group.
Shingrix, in plain English
Shingrix is the modern shingles vaccine. In trials it prevented 97% of shingles cases in people aged 50 and over, and 91% in people aged 70 and over. It is given as two doses, spaced 2 to 6 months apart, and it is licensed for adults 50 and over, and from age 18 for people at increased risk of shingles. The HSE notes it is only available privately, so you have to pay for it, and you cannot get it through your medical card or the Drugs Payment Scheme.
The surprising part: shingles vaccination and dementia
Here is where it gets genuinely interesting. Over the last couple of years, several large, well-designed studies have found that people who get the shingles vaccine are less likely to go on to develop dementia.
The standout came from Wales and was published in Nature in 2025. It looked at the older live shingles vaccine (Zostavax), not Shingrix. Because the shingles vaccine was rolled out using a strict date-of-birth cut-off, researchers could compare two almost identical groups of older adults, one just eligible, one just not, a bit like a natural experiment. Those who were vaccinated had roughly a 20% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia over the following seven years. A separate 2024 study (Taquet and colleagues) suggested the newer Shingrix vaccine may be linked to a greater benefit.
Researchers think it may come down to calming the viral reactivation and inflammation that can quietly harm the brain, though the science is still being worked out. It is not a reason on its own to get vaccinated, preventing shingles is, but it is a remarkable bonus, and one worth knowing about.
Is the shingles vaccine for you?
Tap what is true for you.
You can still get shingles even if you have had it before, so the vaccine is worthwhile either way.
What it costs at Laois Pharmacy
| Service | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 injection | €20 to administer | Per injection. We will advise how often you need it. |
| Shingles vaccine (Shingrix) | €220 per dose + €20 to administer each dose | Two doses, 2 to 6 months apart, so €480 for the full course. |
No GP appointment is needed for the shingles vaccine, you book directly with our pharmacist. For a B12 injection, bring your prescription from your doctor. Either way, we take care of the rest in a few private minutes.
Book your injection in Portlaoise
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Frequently asked questions
How much is a B12 injection at Laois Pharmacy?
€20 to administer, per injection. If you need B12 regularly we can keep you on schedule.
How much is the shingles vaccine in Ireland?
At Laois Pharmacy the Shingrix vaccine is €220 per dose plus €20 to administer each dose. It is a two-dose course, given 2 to 6 months apart, so €480 in total.
Does the shingles vaccine really lower dementia risk?
Several large studies, including a 2025 Nature study from Wales, found people who get the shingles vaccine are around 20% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia. It is an association, not proof that the vaccine prevents dementia.
Do I need a prescription or a GP appointment?
For the shingles vaccine, no: you can book it directly with our pharmacist in Portlaoise. For a B12 injection, yes: you need a valid prescription from your doctor, and our pharmacist gives the injection for you.
Who should get the shingles vaccine?
Adults aged 50 and over, and some younger adults with a weakened immune system. Talk to our pharmacist if you are unsure.
Sources
- Eyting M, et al. A natural experiment on the effect of herpes zoster vaccination on dementia. Nature, 2025.
- Taquet M, et al. Recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) and dementia risk, 2024.
- HSE, Shingles and the shingles vaccine (Shingrix); Vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia.
- Manufacturer prescribing information, Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine).
This article is general information from our pharmacy team and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Please talk to our pharmacist about what is right for you.
