Shingles and pneumococcal vaccines side effects

The Shringrix jab is known to cause side effects in high proportion of individuals: myself included.

The US Centre for Disease Control estimates that 28% of people having the first jab do not return for the second.

Seabear I'm 71 have never had shingles or pneumonia. I had the shingles vaccinations within the last 2 years and, I may have been lucky, but my only discomfort was a moderately sore injection site. Enough to wake me up if I turned over in my sleep but not enough to have kept me awake. This is for the first shingles jag and the second I had no discomfort at all. The pneumonia I had no reaction whatsoever. I guess I was lucky.

I was fine with the pneumonia vaccine but quite poorly for nearly a fortnight with the first shingles vaccine and am dreading the second which I will have. A friend ended up in A & E for the day after the shingles one!

I have all jabs going. Shingles, RSV, pneumonia and Covid, and been okay with all. Last week I had a covid jab and was very poorly with a very sore arm.

My 94 yr old aunt has recently broken her arm near the shoulder so I am helping her. Today she said she had a pain in her ribs and a rash, I examined it and said it looked like shingles. Couldn’t get a reply from Doctors so took her to chemist and he confirmed it and prescribed anti-viral tablets. I was amazed at the efficiency of the chemist system. She had her shingles and pneumonia jab this year but it didn’t protect her.

I had terrible side effects from both jabs i had all the symptoms of shingles again. I wish i had never had the injections

No problems just my arm sore for day or too, but I find if you keep it moving as normal it goes off quicker ..

I had the first shingles jab 10 days ago and still feel very tired. However, I do have ME, plus I think I caught a tummy bug just afterwards.

I have heard that shingles pain is particularly bad, so I think anything is better than getting that. As PPs have said, the jabs aren't supposed to stop you getting shingles completely, but if you do have it it shouldn't be as bad.

I didn’t get called for mine and had to ask for it, having checked I was eligible on the NHS website, also my husband turned 70 and wasn’t called so asked the surgery for it. They seem completely unaware of who is eligible and there is no process to call people which is criminal really! Maybe it’s just our surgery. Anyway, I often get fluey after vaccines and I found the shingles vaccine made me feel like I had aching and shivering, feeling generally unwell and rubbish for a couple of days after both doses. However, as an ex nurse I know how I felt was absolutely nothing compared to having shingles which can be extremely painful and leave long term damage.

i would love the shingles vaccine . Ever since my attack of shingles about 4 years ago the site of the German measles vaccine on my arm has been "live". I was lucky when I had shingles as the Dr prescribed some drugs within a few days of the rash and therefore it was mild. My theory is that my shingles can be reactivated and my arm is a sign that it is still live in my system. The cost to go private ( now 4 jabs?) is over £1000 ?

HobbyCat

I’m recovering from my first and I hope last bout of Shingles and I would have loved the vaccine! I am 62 so didn’t qualify and boy do I know about it. The rash has cleared up but there are still purple scars and the affected skin still hurts. In fact I just took some Ibuprofen which I’m not supposed to take but every so often I just need some relief from the pain. It started three weeks ago today and I am still suffering. Added to the pain there is overwhelming fatigue.

My husband had shingles at age 60. When he was 70 and due for shingles vaccine, our GP insisted he should still be vaccinated because its possible to get shingles more than once and the older you are, the more severe it might be.

I had shingles jab and arm very sore. Had the second one after six months and was ok. Arm sore but better than shingles.

I had my first Shingrix jab on Monday, and apart from it being very painful as the needle went in (unusual???) I have had no side effects.
The nurse told me that the second injection would be in "about a year", but when I got home and read the blurb she had given me from the box, it stated that I'd have the next jab any time between 2-6 months.
It doesn't take much to confuse me!

I'm sorry to hear that some of you have suffered side effects from the shingles vaccine. However, the actual disease can be a lot worse. When I was younger, it attacked my facial nerves. I was ill and incapacitated for weeks, and very lucky not to lose my sight. Think very carefully and take professional medical advice if you are worried about the potential impact of a vaccination on your system.

Had Shingles, then had vaccine, had shingles again. Apparently shingles vaccine only lasts about 7 years. If offered the new vaccine I'd take it. Absolutely horrible, painful disease.

When I had it we only got one shingles jab, not two
Anyone know if you’ve had it more than 10 years ago can you have another ?

I had the shingles vaccine, had a swollen itchy arm for about a week which was quite painful. Was not looking forward to the second needle but had it later without any side effects at all.

Cannot get shingles jag till over 70 in Scotland! I've had shingles
( mild) but wouldnot wish it on anyone. I just missed getting it but will be eligible this year as you hadto be 70 before September 2025 to be eligible.

I am in the US I have had both vax. We do not have to be invited, we can go to our local pharmacy.

Are RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccines are available in the UK?

I've had both of these last year on the same day. I felt off colour but have no idea which vaccine was the culprit. What I can say is that I could barely move the arm I had the shingles vaccine in for 3 days so maybe it was that one.
I had shingles a few years ago and it was dreadful, it took ages for me to feel properly well again, so it seemed better to have a couple of days discomfort rather than go thrthat again.

I have never had a bad reaction to any vaccine but felt rubbish for 36 hours after the shingles jab, but I will go back and have the second one as I don’t want shingles!

I'm so glad to hear it wasn't just me that had a reaction to the Shingles vac. I'll definitely get the second one though as I really don't want Shingles. It sounds awful.

I would personally advise have the jabs…I had had a 1st Shingles jab booked and cancelled it as I was going to be away; forgot to rebook and lo and behold came down with Shingles a month ago. Pharmacist diagnosed and sent me to a&e(!) because I had tenderness in my forehead and they were a worried about my eye…started me in the Antibiotics course and I used cooled Calamine lotion and ibuprofen (in conjunction with the antibiotics) and had one really awful uncomfortable night in the 3.5 weeks of having Shingles - am having to wait for all the shingles affected sites to heal completely before I can start the immunisation process again but I shall!
I’d say have the jabs.
Mind you abit worrying is that everyone I speak to (it seems)
has had Shingles or knows someone who has had it, once, twice someone 6 times !
Horrible Shingles!

As I said upthread my DH had a really nasty reaction to both shingles jabs but am glad he did it, I have had shingles and was lucky it wasn’t as awful as it could have been, but have had friends and relatives who had it in the mouth, on the face, and on the arm or shoulder that then needed physiotherapy.

If you suspect shingles get it diagnosed fast and start on the antivirals you will be given ...not antibiotics... asap. They will lessen the effect of the shingles.