- Former AFL star Brendan Fevola and his father, Angelo, share their shingles experiences for Shingles Action Week (23 February – 1 March 2026).
- Almost all Australian adults carry the inactive varicella zoster virus that causes shingles, from a previous chickenpox infection.1-3
- 'Shingles Action Week' (23 February – 1 March 2026) refocuses Australia's annual shingles awareness campaign on the need to take action, especially for the millions of adults aged over 50 living with long-term health conditions that can increase shingles risk, including cardiovascular disease (>3 million), diabetes (>1.1 million), asthma (>1 million) and rheumatoid arthritis (around 400,000).4
- New global research* indicates that 83% of Australian adults aged 50–70 who are living with long-term health conditions are worried shingles could disrupt everyday life, yet almost half (44%) have never discussed it with their GP or pharmacist.1
This comes as new global research* commissioned by GSK shows that while many adults living with long-term health conditions are concerned about shingles, few are actually discussing it with a healthcare professional.5
In Australia alone, there are potentially millions of adults aged 50 and over living with long-term health conditions that can increase shingles risk, including cardiovascular disease (over 3 million), diabetes (over 1.1 million), asthma (over 1 million) and rheumatoid arthritis (around 400,000).4
The survey of over 6,000 adults aged 50–70 across 10 countries, including Australia, found that among the 501 Australians surveyed, 83% worried shingles could disrupt everyday life and 74% were concerned it could lead to serious complications or long-term hospital stays, yet almost half (44%) said they had never discussed shingles with a healthcare professional.5
Shingles has had a significant impact on the Fevola family. Brendan was hit unexpectedly during the peak of his career, forcing him to pause training. More recently in 2025, he watched his father, Angelo, experience shingles while also managing an autoimmune condition that can affect the immune system. Both father and son describe shingles as among the worst pain they've ever experienced, significantly disrupting their day-to-day lives.
The former AFL star hopes that by sharing his experience, he can encourage at-risk Australians to take shingles seriously and take action by speaking to their general practitioner (GP) or pharmacist to understand their personal risk.
"It's one of those things you hear about and think, 'yeah, that won't be me', but it really knocked me around. It was incredibly painful and unlike anything I'd felt before. I felt constantly exhausted and I had to put my life and career on pause,
"What really opened my eyes was seeing it hit my dad later as well, especially while managing rheumatoid arthritis. It is so important not to ignore your risk and take action by starting a conversation with your doctor."
Angelo Fevola says that he didn't fully understand his personal risk, including how age and long-term health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis may increase risk.
"I didn't realise that my condition could be one of the factors that increases risk for shingles. Living with rheumatoid arthritis already comes with its challenges, so experiencing shingles on top of that was incredibly tough – my mobility, independence, and my ability to manage my overall health was impacted.
"Looking back, I wish I'd had a conversation earlier. I want people with long-term health conditions to understand that shingles can affect them too, and that taking action starts with asking the right questions."
Dr Geoff Lester, Director of Hearts4heart, echoed the call for action, saying shingles is a risk for almost all Australian adults and can add further burden for people living with long-term health conditions.
"For people already managing an ongoing health issue, shingles can add an extra layer of physical and emotional strain. Shingles Action Week is the time to take action and speak with your healthcare professional, whether that's your GP, pharmacist or specialist," said Geoff.
Professor Paul Van Buynder, Public health physician and Professor at the School of Medicine at Griffith University in Queensland, says Shingles Action Week is a timely reminder for at-risk Australians to check in on their shingles risk.
"We know awareness isn't enough, many people don't connect shingles to their own risk until it hits close to home. Shingles Action Week is about changing that. If you're over 50 and especially if you're living with a long-term health condition, now is the time to take action and have an informed conversation with a GP or pharmacist about your risk," he said.
Shingles can be a painful and potentially debilitating condition, that typically presents as a painful blistering rash on one side of the body or face.1,2 Almost all Australian adults carry the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles from a previous chickenpox infection, even if they don't remember having it. Shingles risk increases with age as immune function naturally declines and risk is higher for people living with certain long-term health conditions, which can weaken their immune systems. Those with a family history of shingles may also be at increased risk.1,2,6,7
Further research commissioned by GSK Australia^ (among a nationally representative sample of Australians aged 50-69) shows that awareness doesn't always translate into initiating a conversation.8 While most Australians aged 50–69 recognised shingles can cause a painful rash (80%) and long-term nerve pain (79%), almost one in four (24%) said they do not believe it is their responsibility to raise shingles with a doctor.8
