Last Thursday I had the Shingles vaccine, 1st dose. I immediately had a sore arm, painful really and that continued into the weekend. I also felt generally unwell, completely out of kilter and dizzy/ nauseous at times, runny nose and a bit of a cough. Then a red hot swollen rash appeared on Sunday, also still painful, more so, in fact. Monday the rash began to itch like crazy, big red swollen blob of itchiness! I put antihistamine cream on and it helped a bit. Still itching this morning and I’ve taken an antihistamine tablet, hoping it will help!
I don’t want the second dose as the side effects are said to be worse!
Anybody had this experience, should I speak to GP? I hate bothering the doctors with something minor…
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Oh yes but no rash and I think it’s a GP call, you can still get Shingles after the vaccine anyway. But it might be coincidence, so really only a GP can sort out. My sore arm lasted a week and I felt awful. However Shingles is worse ! X
Wow ! More or less the same thing happened to me after my first jab, apart from the rash. I really didn't want the second one , and spoke to the nurse . She said that it was likely to be a strong response from my immune system, and that the second one would probably be better as my immune system would recognise it. And I was fine after the second one- apart from my arm being a bit sore.
Of course, we are all different, and that was my personal experience, so maybe it would be worth talking to someone.
it was the shingrex non live one wasn’t it? That’s the one I had and I’m very prone to drug sensitivities but only got a sore arm with this one which for me is the norm. Sounds very unlucky but definitely needs reporting
I get a sore arm with all injections, I think it’s something in the carrier I’m allergic to. However, this reaction is pretty extreme, certainly way out of the norm for me.
I phoned GP and have an appointment this morning… if I can get there through the gales.
Had my 1st a few days ago, arm still quite sore with some redness around the area. Fatigue went much worse, and had some trouble with vision. 1 dizzy spell when I was sat in chair and felt nauseous.
Hi. I had the Shingrix vaccine a few months ago. I had a reaction exactly like yours and I decided I wasn't going to have the second one. After lots of deliberation and knowing someone who got shingles, I decided to risk it and had the second one. My 2nd reaction was just the same but not worse. After seeing the effects of shingles and the length of time it can last, I honestly think that a few days having the vaccine side effects is nothing in comparison to having the shingles. Good luck.
I had a large red, hot and itchy rash on my thigh after the second jab. GP prescribed shingles medication and after 5 days the rash was gone. I also had the flue like symptoms, but just imagine how much worse it would be if you caught Shingles without vaccine! Go for the second one.
I had mine last week, glad to say I was fine, a tiny bit of a sore arm nothing more. I was reluctant to get mine but glad I did, I’ve had shingles and the pain lasted about six months. Very painful.
I had a sore arm and the area around the injection site was red and madly itchy for a good week or so afterwards. Not had my second one yet, but intend to - I've seen people with shingles and do not want it ever!
I had a massive RA flare after the first shot and had to have a steroid rescue pack sent out by the RA nurse. Fortunately no reaction at all with the second jab just a sore arm for a couple of days. I hope you feel better very soon and agree you should contact your GP and rheumatoid team. I had Shingles over 20 years ago and definitely don’t want to go through that again! xx
I had a VERY sore arm for a week after the first Shingrix jab - much worse than the covid and flu jabs. However, no other side effects. I took 2 paracetamol every 4-6 hours for the first couple of days for the pain. I was a bit worried about having the second jab as I also heard it can cause worse side effects than the first. However, I went ahead last week and fortunately, I just had a similar sore arm for a week - a bit less sore than the first time actually. So not everyone has a worse time of it second time round. I kept reminding myself that unless I was having a serious allergic reaction, the side effects were worth it to help prevent me from getting the dreaded shingles!
I know I am rather late in joining this 'string', but just to say I had my first shingles jab on Wed 30 Feb and just before going to bed, suddenly felt very achy all over. I had the sore arm but that was more or less the same as I have experienced with recent flu and covid jabs, although I haven't experienced any other symptoms with those 2 (apart of course from when I had the first Covid jab, which I think most people experienced as well). I felt pretty ropey the next day too; very tired and achy. Friday was better and today I feel more or less back to normal. I do however, remember also feeling this way when I had my first Swine flu jab (during that epidemic, whenever that was!), but didnt experience any of those symptoms with the 2nd jab (offered because of my RA meds). I am therefore hoping that my 2nd Shingles one, due in about 6 months, will be better. Hopefully, you will find the same thing. Oh yes and I meant to say that I have Imraldi, Anti TNF injections every 2 weeks and methotrexate 5 mg once weekly and they are both for R.Arthritis.
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