Everyone between 70 and 79 is likely to be offered the jab, following a recommendation from the Government's independent committee on immunisation.
The Department of Health said it aimed to offer the vaccine to four million people starting later this year, as long as a cost-effective deal could be agreed.
Shingles is a debilitating and painful condition, triggered by the reactivation of the virus which caused chickenpox, one of the most common childhood illnesses.
One in four adults suffers from the infection around the nerve areas, which causes pain, rashes and blisters, and is most severe in the elderly, with 50,000 people in their 70s developing shingles each year.
The Government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended that the vaccine, which is effective for about seven years, is offered to everyone between the age of 70 and 79.
Under an NHS constitution, which came into place last year, the Government is obliged to follow the recommendation, as long as a cost-effective vaccine can be found.
Minister for Public Health Gillian Merron said: "Shingles is an unpleasant illness which can be very serious, especially for older people".
"I welcome the recommendation from the experts on immunisation that we should look for a cost-effective vaccine".