Anyone had shingles since Covid Jab ??

[llewelyn2405]

Just wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with shingles since having their covid jab ? I had the AZ on the 30th March. Had a reaction/side effect after, felt like I had been hit by a truck and my head was going to explode. Been feeling unwell for around a week now and went to Docs today and was diagnosed with shingles. This has to be more than a coincidence right ?

[LisaSnow]

They are unlikely to be directly related. It is possible that you have been under more stress because of vaccine side effects so that the inactive varicella-zoster virus got activated -which is how shingles developed. I hope you have received antiviral early and are resting a lot to recover. Feel better soon.

[llewelyn2405 in reply to LisaSnow]

Thanks very much for your reply. The very odd thing is, last year I had chicken pox like spots appear on my chest and side of torso. Had chicken pox as a child. These were then tested and I was told it was a symptom of me having covid. They look very similar to those but this time very sore indeed. I have been given tablets and cream. Sure it will ease soon, fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[Susiebee31]

I’m seeing drs this am think I have shingles had my Pfizer 2nd jab 26 th March started with the rash just after 2 weeks, didn’t really have any side effects with covid19 jab though. Thought the rash was a sweat rash originally because of other drugs I take plus radiotherapy side effect. I’m supposed to be starting rutaximab infusions Monday looks like that off.****

[llewelyn2405 in reply to Susiebee31]

Hi Susiebee,

It’s very odd isn’t it ? How did you get on at the Doctors? 🙂

[Susiebee31 in reply to llewelyn2405]

I have shingles and have to take antivirals for 10 days, spoken to infusion clinic and new drugs cancelled and they aren’t sure when I’ll be able to have them, apparently they need to talk with rheumatologists😢

[llewelyn2405 in reply to Susiebee31]

Sorry to hear that ! It’s not fun is it. Hope you have someone to make a fuss of you and help you out. Fingers crossed you get the meds ASAP 🤞🏻Take care

[Eagle]

Yes, I have had shingles recently (for the second time), eight weeks on from the AZ vaccine. This time it was higher up at the top of cervical spine so rashes down one side of the neck. Ended up having a CT scan as the headache was something else! The neurologist I saw thought it was too late for antivirals by the time I saw him but prescribed them anyway and I am pleased he did as they definitely eased the symptoms. Not sure about the link with the vaccine but it must do something to the immune system and anecdotally, I have heard of other cases although not sure whether they were patients with autoimmune conditions.Certainly very painful and can relate to your 'hit by a truck' and 'head was going to explode' comments. Easy does it...

[llewelyn2405 in reply to Eagle]

Hi Eagle, So sorry to hear you’ve had shingles for a second time. I believe it must do something to our immune system. I have heard there is an injection you can have to stop you getting shingles ? I might be wrong. Hope you feel better soon.

[panther50 in reply to llewelyn2405]

Yes I think I remember they were offering a vaccine for shingles to over 60s (or over 65s? I forget) worth having when you think how nasty it can be.

[llewelyn2405 in reply to panther50]

Definitely, just have to wait a while, not quite over 60 as yet. 🙂

[Loopyru in reply to panther50]

The shingles vaccine is a live vaccine so definitely not suitable for anyone who is immunosuppressed by the way

[llewelyn2405 in reply to Loopyru]

👍

[Piscesdreamer]

"Herpes zoster reactivation -- a.k.a. shingles -- following COVID-19 vaccination in six patients with comorbid autoimmune/inflammatory diseases may be a new adverse event associated with the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine, suggested a new report."

medpagetoday.com/infectious...

[llewelyn2405 in reply to Piscesdreamer]

Wow !! Thanks for that. Yet again we have not been included in initial tests. I will show our Doctor this but don’t think they will be convinced ? They should take it into account as anything goes with Covid, very unknown territory as we are all finding out. Cheers

[Rosills1]

Be sure to report as yellow card!

[llewelyn2405 in reply to Rosills1]

Thank you. I have done that just now 👍

[DRunnerchick]

Here’s a link for a study published (12 April 2021) in Rheumatology. It is being monitored.

academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...

Cheers, D🏃🏽‍♀️

[llewelyn2405 in reply to DRunnerchick]

Thank you 👍

[DRunnerchick in reply to llewelyn2405]

Hope it helps in some small way. I am scheduled for my 1st (Pfizer) jab on Monday.

I had a severe reaction when I got my first Shingles (Shingrix) vaccine 💉 so I am not getting the second jab to avoid exacerbating my SPS, since last time it threw me into a 2 month flare. I’m hoping 1 Shingles jab was enough to protect me and the I won’t have any side effects from the COVID jab other than the usual expected (erythema, soreness at injection site, malaise etc.) 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 But, weighing the risks (I just had a very dear friend pass from COVID-19 this month) I still think I should risk the first one and go from there. 🤷‍♀️ I am the guinea pig. When my disease is 1 in a million, I know I am the experiment 🧫 and have to weigh carefully and have those discussions with my TRUSTED professionals.

D🏃🏽‍♀️

[llewelyn2405 in reply to DRunnerchick]

Thank you so much. I’m so sorry to hear of your dear friend. This virus is just terrible. Please take care x

[Kcn3]

My daughter had her 2nd astra covid jab on mon and literally 24hrs later had shingles. She had it before so we knew what it was. The dr called her in and gave her acyclovir to help.

She has PPFE and 'ground glass' and was due to have her 2nd meeting at Papworth hospital next Tues for assessment for a double lung transplant, but has had to be delayed because of the shingles.

As if she hadnt got enough to deal with😕

[Kcn3]

She reported it on the yellow card scheme