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Shingles and pneumococcal vaccines side effects

(78 Posts)
Seabear Thu 04-Jun-26 17:43:31

I have turned 65 and been invited for the shingles and pneumococcal vaccinations. I had chickenpox once as a child and never had shingles or pneumonia. I am immunosuppressed with rheumatoid arthritis and have angina. Has anyone had these jabs and experienced side effects? I don't want to feel worse than I already do.

ClaraB Sat 06-Jun-26 14:15:50

I’m also immunosuppressed by medication, I’ve had both shingles jabs and the pneumonia jab, was fine with all.
I’ve had shingles and never want it again, it was the worst thing ever.

SillyNanny321 Sat 06-Jun-26 14:06:10

Have had the jabs luckily with no bad after effects. Just the usual sore spot for a couple of days. Unlike the flu jab that I do feel a bit rough after. Wont complain or turn them down as after several bad bouts of flu over the years & very bad covid 2+ years ago definitely do not want covid again.

HobbyCat Sat 06-Jun-26 14:03:09

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.

RillaofIngleside Sat 06-Jun-26 14:00:04

Shingles is a terrible illness, and I would suffer a sore arm for a couple of days to reduce the symptoms. My mother in law was crying with pain from it. No reaction at all to the pneumococcal vaccine. But I know two people recently who have died of pneumonia. Surely if you are already compromised you would be grateful to have them.

Grandmotherto8 Sat 06-Jun-26 13:53:42

I had both jabs some years ago and had zero side effects.

Chicklette Sat 06-Jun-26 13:44:14

My sister in Germany had her shingles vaccine last year. She was fine the first day, but started feeling nauseous the next day. She was out with her husband and asked him to pull over and she felt sick. She leant too far out of the car and fell headfirst into a snow drift! Luckily she could see the funny side, and was fine after that one day.
I am 66 now and immunocompromised but have not been called for my shingles vaccine. I hope it comes soon as I really don’t want shingles. I had it mildly many years ago and that was bad enough.

pably15 Sat 06-Jun-26 00:13:04

I had the pneumonia jag a few years ago, I don't remember the shingles vaccine, but I was told that I've had it,

Matza Sat 06-Jun-26 00:07:29

Hi. I'm usually a lurker. I had the jabs and like Aveline had a very swollen and red upper arm for weeks. It's still a bit weaker than it was. I'm so sorry to read that Sparklefizz became unwell later on. I've had shingles before and it is such a painful illness.

mamaa Fri 05-Jun-26 23:43:46

Had both, no side effects x

Autumncolours Fri 05-Jun-26 23:12:36

I had the first Shingles jab in February with no side effects. Second one due in September.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 05-Jun-26 21:56:50

I was immunosupressed after chemo and immunotherapy and developed shingles. Very very horrid.

I had the 2 Shingrix vax several weeks after the shingles had finally cleared. No side effects at all.

Sparklefizz Fri 05-Jun-26 07:07:09

I had the 2 Shingrix Shingles jabs and 6 weeks later I developed Shingles in the roof of my mouth, trigeminal nerve and ear on one side, which has left me with tinnitus and hearing loss in that ear.

It was very painful but, having joined a Shingles Group, I realised my pain was less than others suffered, so perhaps the jabs helped with that.

Esmay Fri 05-Jun-26 06:08:36

To be honest , I accept any vaccine that's on offer rather than have the full blown disease.
I always take analgesia before I feel any reaction and rest as much as possible.
My father had the misery of shingles for months -he used to cry with the pain .
Having watched him suffer and having to try to make him better without success-I'd prefer the injection.

Mamie Fri 05-Jun-26 05:38:54

My DH and I had two shingles and a pnemoccocal vaccines in France last autumn, with no side effects. Since we returned permanently to England three months ago and registered with a GP, we have had several messages to say we are eligible for both. The messages didn't allow me to reply that we had already had them, so I took our records from the French pharmacie in to the practice so they could update their records.

CV2020 Fri 05-Jun-26 01:08:55

I had terrible side effects with the first Shingles vaccination. I did not want second vaccination. I discussed these side effects with my GP who said as I’d previously had Chickenpox as a child and Shingles at 51 and first vaccination that I should have adequate protection. I’m immunocompromised. I didn’t have second vaccination.

CanadianGran Thu 04-Jun-26 21:36:31

My DH just had a covid booster and pneumococcal shots yesterday. He has a sore arm, and is feeling achy today, but not too bad. Because he's had two shots on the same day, it's hard to pinpoint which one is making him achy.

Aveline Thu 04-Jun-26 21:12:12

Huge swollen red arm. Very sore for several weeks. It did settle down eventually.

Seabear Thu 04-Jun-26 21:04:33

Thanks everyone. @Aveline what side effects did you have?

SpinDriftCoastal Thu 04-Jun-26 20:53:48

Just the usual fluey symptoms I get with jabs. Over in about 12 hours so took some paracetamol to combat and took the day easy.

midgey Thu 04-Jun-26 20:07:49

Almost anything is better than shingles!

swampy1961 Thu 04-Jun-26 19:59:52

SueDonim

No side effects here except a sore arm for a couple of days.

Ditto!

SueDonim Thu 04-Jun-26 19:55:49

No side effects here except a sore arm for a couple of days.

Oldnproud Thu 04-Jun-26 19:03:24

I had these vaccinations about a month ago.
I was given one in each arm. The only side-effect I had (and had been warned might happen) was tenderness in my left arm/ armpit, which lasted for about a week. But as I don't recall which jab was in which arm, I don't know which vaccine caused that.

For me personally - not immunocompromised - it was well worth the discomfort.

Aveline Thu 04-Jun-26 18:53:40

I've had pneumococcal which was fine but I had a massive reaction to part 1 shingles. I was very surprised as I'd never had any reaction at all to any of the umpteen vacs I've had over the years. I've got part 2 coming up. I'll go ahead with it as I definitely don't want shingles.

YorkLady Thu 04-Jun-26 18:34:40

I have also received an invite and am immunocompromised.. will be watching this thread. My appointment is for late June.
Hoping marydoll will be along with some advice. 😊