Any older Mumsnetters felt ill after a shingles jab?

[Hedgerow2]

Had mine yesterday - shingles in one arm, pneumonia in the other. Started to feel unwell yesterday evening.

Today both arms are really stiff and the shingles one is extremely painful. I ache all over, my glands feel tender, my skin is very sensitive, my head aches, I feel lightheaded and I'm absolutely freezing. Currently wearing 2 jumpers and wrapped in a shawl with a thick blanket on top. Central heating is on and dh has just lit the log burner. My hands are shaking with cold.

I've sometimes felt under the weather after a Covid jab, but never anywhere near this bad.

Anyone else reacted like this?

Yes I felt like shit after both my shingles shots, even worse than I do after a Covid shot, but it passed quickly enough and knowing I will never get shingles makes it well worth it

Yes, my mum had shingles and was very ill with it so I'm grateful to have the vaccination My mum even had one on her eyeball.

Bit disappointed that I have to have another one in 6 months!

No reaction beyond a mildly tender arm for the first Shingles vaccination, felt bloody rotten for two days after the second.

Guess that means I was vulnerable to it and needed to develop the antibodies that kicked into action for the second.

Definitely better than either Shingles or the difficulty in trying to speak to the GP to get an emergency prescription of antivirals within 24 hours (and manage to fill the prescription whilst also working fulltime) each time I came into contact with it.

Just a bit surprised to feel so rough - the nurse told me I might experience a bit of a headache and a bit of a sore arm. Didn't feel this bad when I had COVID!

Felt fluey for 2 days but then was fine. Better than getting shingles itself. I remember my poor gran got shingles which spread to her eye causing her sight problems

Hi I started another thread about this but have just found yours. I am 52 and had the Shingrix on Sunday. Hot, swollen arm, aching leg muscles, skin feels creepy like when you have flu, my face is hot, hands go freezing in the evening and my middle back hurts. My throat is sore and glands hurt in neck. I've not felt this bad with any other vaccine ! It was also expensive 😞

@hamjamwitch - sorry to hear that. I had mine on Monday and still feel wretched. I'm still veering between burning skin and freezing cold. Sweating loads in bed then sitting shivering under a pile of blankets even though the heating is on. Still ache all over. Head is currently banging which is why I'm awake. Can barely lift my vaccinated arm it hurts so much. I spent most of yesterday in bed and could only manage a couple of pieces of toast all day as I felt sick.

You're a day ahead of me, do you not feel any better yet?

I'm wondering whether I should report this reaction to the GP or anyone - if they would be interested!

I felt awful with the first one headache cold/chills and high temp (took to my bed). Lasted for two days. But still felt off about a week later but nowhere near as bad as first 48 hours.

I was dreading getting the second jab but was surprisingly ok after that.

I also felt dreadful after the first, far worse than COVID jabs. It did only last 24 hours though but was quite nasty.
i’m due my second one next month and I’m not looking forward to it at all. I had already decided to try and get it done when I have nothing planned for the following couple of days.

I did hear that with COVID jabs that if you reacted to it it meant that the vaccine was working and your body was building up good immunity. I don’t know how true it is but it sounds good and gives you a bit of comfort.

I felt fluey after the second one but the sore shoulder never went away - it has severely limited my mobility a year later. I've had scans and steroid injections but still can't move that arm even slightly behind me. I reckon the jab was wrongly administered but they've all gone quiet on that!

I had sweats/chills with first shingles jab- went on for 2 weeks. I am immune suppressed so maybe why so long. 2nd one had sweats/ chills for a week. But worth it.

Is the shingles vaccine a one off, or do you have it yearly like the one for flu?

Not me personally, but my 62yo neighbour. Had injections then shingles for very long time. Was really suffering.

I felt very ill for a week after my shingles vaccination. So ill that I had to go to bed. However, I had the vaccination about 2 weeks after I had recovered from Covid so maybe I should have left it a bit longer.
However, I am still glad a had the vaccination as shingles is horrible. My friend had it and she was very ill and depressed for ages.

Unfortunately, vaccine doesn't stop you from getting shingles. It just helps to protect against it.

I had the vaccine years ago and have had shingles since.

I had sore arm (which I get after every injection) - milder with this one than for some shots.

Sorry to read you got it worse

I was told you have a booster shot 6 months after the first and then that's it.

Bit depressing to hear I could still get shingles anyway ☹️

The shingles vaccine I had was a one off (Zostavax) and the only side effect I had was a sore arm. Can I ask why you had (I assume) Shingrix?

A few years ago I had genital/anal shingles and I certainly don't want a repeat of that!

Ouch how unlucky!

DH and I both had the single dose with no problems. I had a slightly achy arm, but that was it.

Zostavax is live attenuated

Shingrax isn't a live vaccine, and is the only one that is used for those aged 50-64 (as the only people who qualify for an NHS shot in that age group are those with immune system issues). It's also used, where medically indicated, in those age 65+

I don't know what I was given but the nurse said it wasn't a live vaccine. People are invited to have the vaccine from their 65th birthday now so I just went along.

I hope you soon feel much better.
I'm on day 5 (had the jab on Sunday) don't feel any better .my head is ringing today . I'm thinking about cancellng the second dose of Shingrix

Was it the Shingrix vaccine ? I had it eight weeks apart as I'm in the over fifty's immunosuppressed category .
My arm was sore for a few days , that's about it .
Spring covid boosters starts in April .

I've been giving this for months, and had mine yesterday (immunesuppressed) and OMG it was sore!!

Felt rubbish last night, temperature this morning and feel headachy and very tired.

Zostavax stocks have been depleted so everyone is offered Shingrix now - 2 doses either 2 or 6+ months apart.