Shingrix vaccination after effects

[Koalajane]

I had my first Shingrix jab yesterday and woke up this morning feeling shivery and generally more achey, generally unwell.

Has anyone had the same after effects.

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Did you take paracetamol after the jab? That would probably have helped. I think some people have had that - HeronNS had nothing, her husband suffered quite a bit I think!

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

I didn’t. To be honest I hadn’t expected to have it as I had gone for my diabetic review. I was told my kidney function had dropped a bit and my mind was on that! I think I might take some paracetamol now, thanks

[Vaddy in reply to Koalajane]

I had mine 4 weeks ago, I did take Paracetamol as advised, but still woke up next day feeling like I had been by a bus, After 2 weeks I upped my Prednisolone, disappointed because I had managed to get to 1/2 mg, I have only gone up to 1mg,but it helped.

Got part 2 of jab in October,along with Flu !

[lizzie47 in reply to PMRpro]

I was told early on in the GCA journey that the Shingles jam is a live vacine so not to have it,Is that correct please? Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lizzie47]

That applies to the Zostavax shingles vaccine which is no longer used. Since the beginning of September, only the Shingrix vaccine that KoalaJane mentions is in use. It is not a live vaccine and is safe for us. It was approved for us a year or two ago, but now everyone gets the Shingrix vaccine.

The full details are in the FAQs I think.

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

There are still a few of the Zostovax vaccines around. My sister had her jab last week and had the Zostovax. She was told there were 7 doses left. My nurse yesterday said they still had a few Zostovax left

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to lizzie47]

As mentioned by PMRpro - this is advice in England, but other countries in UK have followed suit -

england.nhs.uk/2023/07/nhs-...

[lizzie47 in reply to lizzie47]

Thank you very much.Having looked after my Mum with Shingles I would like to avoid the pain she suffered.Another quick question please,although this was years ago I seem to remember shortly after nursing Mum I had Chicken Pox was this anything to do with her Shingles? Thank you for your help. Lizzie

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to lizzie47]

Same virus -

A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn't immune to chickenpox. This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. Once infected, though, the person will develop chickenpox rather than shingles.

Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles. Most adults in the US & UK had chickenpox when they were children. That was before the availability of the routine childhood vaccination that now protects against chickenpox.

[lizzie47 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you Dorset Lady, another jab then!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lizzie47]

Almost everyone our age had CP as a small child but it missed a few. If you are one - when you meet the virus you can get it, and as an adult it can be really unpleasant., even serious, In shingles the virus is only really present in the blisters but if you have close contact with the fluid, you can develop CP. Having had CP - you are at risk of developing shingles as it is the resurgence of the virus from a dormant state in the nerves.

[lizzie47 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro. Yes when I had it I was pretty poorly.I will be making an appointment for the Shingles jab.

[Sophiestree in reply to lizzie47]

I had shingles 20 years ago when my daughter was doing her A levels and we were trawling universities. I was told she'd be fine if she kept away but she still got it and never came in contact with me, so no idea how that happened but terrible timing.

[lizzie47 in reply to Sophiestree]

Most unfortunate for you and your daughter at that particular time,as you say bad timing.Hope your daughter got into her favourite Uni.Thank you for your reply.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

The advice given for most vaccines and the after affects you describe is to take paracetamol- surprised you weren’t told that…

I always take it for at least 24 hours afterwards as a matter of course -whatever the vaccine.

[Janstr in reply to DorsetLady]

This is interesting, as I repeated this (taking paracetamol) to the nurse when I had the Shingrix vaccine & she rubbished doing this. Anyway I decided there was nothing to lose by following the advice on this forum & took paracetamol. I had no side effects from either of the Shingrix vaccines other than a sore arm.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Janstr]

Actually it was a nurse (many years ago) who give me this advice -and a few have repeated it since…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Janstr]

Obviously led a sheltered ife - or one of those who habitually rubbishes any opinion a patient expresses. Never going to hurt to take a dose and every doctor or nurse I have heard giving baby jabs tells mums to give Calpol. Why should we be different?

[Koalajane in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks, no not been told that. I will make sure to take it after my next vaccinations

[RachelJDH]

Sorry but I had no after affects from the Shingrix 1st and 2nd jab except a slightly sore arm muscle. I had the pneumonia jab at the same time as the first jab too. I understand you are more likely to have a reaction to the live vaccine.. I do hope this passes quickly.

[Gimme]

I always take paracetamol just prior to having any vaccination, so that the paracetamol is already in my system. Mind you, that didn't stop me from spending a week in bed last year after the covid and flu jab.

[Sammo47]

I had the Shingrix vaccination a week ago and have been totally wiped out since. I have now doubled my dose from 6mg to 12mg (planning 3 days at that dose) and am hoping it works .....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sammo47]

I think HeronNS's husband was wiped out - didn't bother her! People do react very differently.

[Sammo47 in reply to PMRpro]

Three hours after first 12mg dose my energy levels shot up, have that wired steroids buzz, maybe I should have only taken 10mg? But GP said 12mg ....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sammo47]

That was Sick Day Rules, double the dose. You can try less tomorrow ...

[Koalajane]

having my Covid and flu jabs next week as wanted it before our trip to Oz in October. I will take paracetamol before the jabs but we do have 12 days from the jabs to flying to get over it!

[Hollybee21]

I was the same when I had my jab plus a very swollen, red upper arm. When I looked on line info was that a lot of people have this with the Shingrix vaccine. I was not looking forward to the second vaccine but had no after effects at all with that one. Good luck for number 2🤞🤞

[Koalajane in reply to Hollybee21]

Thanks, good to know you had no after effects from the second one.

A bit worried about having the flu and Covid together but appointments are going fast and I want them before sitting on a plane for about 23 hours on our trip to Australia

[Hollybee21 in reply to Koalajane]

I had to wait 8 weeks before 2nd vaccination.

[Koalajane in reply to Hollybee21]

Yes, having mine 8 weeks after the first one

[YummyBear in reply to Koalajane]

Do you know if there is only the one choice vaccine Shingrix? I have been unfortunate in getting Shingles twice in 4 years and I had the one-jab vaccine one year prior to getting this ghastly condition which took 6 weeks to recover in both cases. I am opting out of the Flu and Covid vaccines in favour of having the Pneumonia vaccine.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to YummyBear]

Latest info re England -

england.nhs.uk/2023/07/nhs-...

[YummyBear in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks

[valrene]

Yes I had the same feeling of shivering very sore arm, just felt like I had flu, didn’t feel quite so bad with the second one.

[Koalajane in reply to valrene]

Thanks, I won’t worry about the second one but will take paracetamol

[Hollybee21 in reply to Koalajane]

Good luck.

[Maxslady]

I had no reaction to the first injection; had similar symptoms as your with the second. It didn’t last but a day, and would rather have that than shingles any day!

[Koalajane in reply to Maxslady]

Yes I agree as I know it would be horrible to have shingles

[OldPenny]

Yes, Koalajane, I had a similar reaction to you, as I also do after every flu jab. I hear that it's better than getting shingles though 😏 OP

[York54]

I had shingles about 2 years ago, presumably you can have it again so I guess I’ll ask about the vaccine now it’s being offered to 65and over ( I’m 69). It was probably the most painful thing I have ever had, good job I got the antivirals quickly .

[Meggsy]

In Australia Shingrix is only available free to certain groups of people. One of these is people 70 years of age - not 71 or over or 69 - go figure! To get it privately is $500 to $600. It is available to those with compromised immunity.