Shingles vaccine side effects.

[justasking111]

Had the first dose yesterday. Nurse said my arm might feel sore. No kidding, right down to the elbow. Then the headache, now the nausea.

I guess it must be doing it's job because I feel so rotten.

It's better than shingles though.

I just wish nurse had warned me of side effects which are normal.

I had the side effects you describe, plus flu-like fatigue, and so did my female friends.
DH was absolutely fine though.

I agree that it would be helpful to warn people, but I suppose it would scare some away.

Me too...but I've suffered shingles twice....so the vaccine is well worth it! 🙏.

I had a very sore upper arm and felt like shit the following day, though I have never had such a noticeable reaction to any previous vaccine. However, I was fine after 48 hours and it’s much better than having Shingles.

DH had the old vaccine a few years ago, single dose, no side effects. He will not be sympathetic, thinks it's mind over matter with things like this.

I had the flu jab a couple of weeks ago and felt a bit ropey, but not like this.

I know shingles is awful, a couple of friends have had it.

I had to chase the surgery to get it. Whereas the flu/COVID jab they chased me. I guess it's expensive.

In the US, we get two doses of the shingles vaccine (Shingrix). My reaction to the first dose was fairly mild, but the second dose, a month later, was really bad.

I wonder if you're getting a different vaccine in the UK.

The other good news re Shingrix is that it lowers your risk of dementia by 20%.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03201-5

No it's Shigrex, but doses six months apart, and, yes reading up the second dose is worse.

Just checked two doses costs between £440-£500 in the UK.

I had the Shingrex vaccine - two doses a couple of months apart. Didn't have any reaction at all. I had had shingles the year before - don't know if that made a difference. The nurse who gave me the second vaccine told me to look after myself because her mother had had a very bad reaction. Seems like it goes one way or the other - no reaction or an extreme reaction.

Yes, it's Shingrix, 2 doses, 6 months apart here in the UK.
It used to be Zostavax, so @FadedRed your DH would have had that, as you say. Lots fewer side effects with Zostavax. He cannot comment with any degree of veracity, really, can he?

@FadedRed yes...I paid £500 for the 2 doses...as I'm too young to be eligible for free on the NHS. Money well worth spending, in my opinion. I've seen longterm and catastrophic effects of Shingles in my career in nursing...plus it can be absolute miserable during the acute stage.

Sorry, meant to address OP justasking111, not @FadedRed

I tried to get it privately, couldn't in Wales at all so had to wait. Wales is/was strict about queue jumping for vaccines at the time.

The awful nausea has eased off. I'm going to do my Christmas cards this afternoon. I'll ask DH to pick up grandson, he won't be impressed. He did granddaughter yesterday for the other family. 🙈

I had it as I'm immunocompromised, absolutely brutal reaction, inflamed upper arm and a week long flare the first time with very elevated CRP, second dose 2-3 months later was not quite so bad but still pretty awful. But it was worth it, and better than shingles!

I was fine with the first one, but flattened by the second, as was OH. Felt like flu, aches and fatigue for several days 🫩

However, worth it to avoid shingles. An older friend of ours was very poorly with shingles and it is horrible, very debilitating.

I had the shingles jabs , first one I had a sore arm , second one , six months later wiped me out and I had to go to bed in the afternoon
I’m in Wales , had a letter to go for my jab just after my 65th birthday

I paid £460 for the shingles Vax. Despite being 68 and immune suppressed I can't get it on the NHS until I'm 70 due to a weird phased introduction.
I was told by lots of people to expect a bad reaction but I had nothing. I put it down to my rubbish immune system.
My recent covid booster otoh was nasty in that my arm was sore for ten days.

How long after shingles should ypu wait before it? I am about 3 weeks out.

Vostarax is the live one and Shingrix is non live. Latter is more effective, and costs more.

I just had flu and covid jabs and my arm is killing me.

I was surprised by the intensity of the side effects of shingrix but my second dose the reaction was milder. Interesting that others found the opposite.

I had a very sore and painful arm and felt generally a bit rough for a day or two after the first dose. Second dose was ok.

A friend had shingles which took her a long time to get over. She was insistent that I should have the vax as soon as I was eligible.

I was ill for 48 hours - sore arm for about 3-4 days. Had the same reaction with the 2nd one.

Doctor told me the adjuvant they use is strong because it’s meant for older people whose immune system needs a bit more of a kick to show the response to the vaccine

My parents had the shingles vaccine. Dad didn't really have any side effects. Mum wasnt great after the first one but the second one knocked her for six. She was properly ill for a few days after it. Still better than actual shingles though.

I had a sore arm and felt rough for about 24 hours after my first jab, but the strangest reaction was an itchy rash about 2ins by 4ins on my upper arm, about 2ins below the actual injection site. It lasted a couple of weeks and is fine now. Has anyone else experienced this?

As long as you have no active lesions.

Just keep reminding yourself that it’s a lot better than having shingles and the 20% lower risk of dementia is a huge bonus too.

Hopefully you will feel better soon.