Here is a thread for talking about shingles (herpes zoster), the Shingrix vaccine, and related topics, since the recent previous threads on these topics have been closed.
I had my series of Shingrix vaxxes in late April and October. I felt a bit worse with the first dose. I had the second dose combined with my flu jab because I was going on vacation. The pharmacist said she didn’t recommend it, but I insisted, as there is no contraindication. I was more concerned about getting flu on my trip. She was concerned I would feel terrible. I never have a reaction to a flu vax so that didn’t worry me.
I would say the first Shingrix was comparable to my first Pfizer Covid jab. Felt a bit rough, but fine after a day. I just had a mild headache with the second Shingrix, which I guess is lucky.
I have a theory, based on nothing, that if you wait longer for the second Shingrix, you’ll feel less sick.
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Shingrix is very effective. Don’t get the shingles, especially in the dermatome that has the eye (superior division of CN V). It’s the gift that keeps on giving. I have patients that have been on continuous steroids for over 20 years. Not good. 
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Had Shingrex #2 yesterday. Have had body aches since last night, still have them. I’ve had shingles before-this discomfort has got NOTHING on actual shingles.
Very glad to have this option.
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I had my Shingrix series last Fall. I’m glad it’s done as I know a few people who had shingles and it was a nightmare.
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Just had my first Shingrex a couple of weeks ago. Some soreness in the arm for a few days and a few hours of general soreness the day after the shot, so it wasn’t too bad. I’ve already had shingles, and I prefer the side effects of Shingrex (so far)!
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I’ve had both doses, and they were both worse than any of my COVID doses. It felt like I had thick oil migrating through my muscle. I’d gladly do it again to avoid the shingles.
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I need to get mine. My PA said that Shingex has fewer side effects than the older shingles vaccine.
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I didn’t have a bad reaction to either Shingrix shot, although the second was slightly worse than the first. I had a worse reaction from the covid vaccines.
Second Shingrix shot did me in. Anything to avoid shingles. I remember when my dad had it and was miserable.
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My sister, my brother-in-law, and I have all had a pretty rough responses to one of the two Shingrix shots in the series. They are both doctors, my sister is a specialist in infectious diseases, and there was never any doubt we’d get vaccinated. It is definitely worth it. My younger brother and another relative have had shingles, and it is painful.
I would urge anyone planning to get the injections to plan for Fridays before an open weekend in case of a response. We were all in bed for three days.
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I must be the odd one who got shingles and only got a minor slightly itchy rash. But I know others who got it rather painfully, and others who got non-specific mild-but-annoying pain that got misdiagnosed before the rash appeared.
For me, both doses of the Shingrix vaccine resulted in a mild malaise type feeling the next day. Never had the older Zostavax vaccine since I was not old enough within its guidelines. I do recall that there was a shortage in the first year or so of general availability of the Shingrix vaccine.
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For many people it’s the post-herpetic neuralgia that is so bothersome. People who get it on top of their head can get sharp pain when the wind blow their hair.
My parents didn’t think I’d ever had chicken pox, and indeed, I tested non-immune when I was pregnant with my now-28y/o daughter. She and I both got the chicken pox vaccine when she was a toddler.
For years, my PCP told me that I neither needed nor qualified for the shingles vaccine. But I got a new PCP last year, who informed me that the standard had changed, and that it was very unlikely for anyone in my generation to have had zero chicken pox exposure; therefore, I would still be at risk for shingles and should get the vaccine.
So, I got the first Shingrix shot in July. Felt a bit icky for a day but not horrible. I intended to get #2 a couple of months ago, but it was preempted by my first case of Covid. I’m now scheduled for the second Shingrix next week (so this thread is timely!) Hoping it isn’t too awful, but I guess it’s got to be done!
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My dad had shingles and it bothered him for years. My ex-neighbor got shingles, it went to her eyes and blinded her.
Before that, she was living the life, going on walking tours to Europe every year. She was so alive.
The Shingrix shots were miserable for me, and made me very sick. But it only lasted a day, and then it was gone. Worth it. Even though I have a long, boring story about how it cost me 15k because I made a poor decision when I was recovering from one of these shots, worth it!
The pharmacist who gave me the shot told me that even if I had gotten the old shingles shot yesterday, he’d recommend getting the Shingrix shot today, as it’s so much more effective (90% vs 50%).
You were really lucky! There are so many horror stories about shingles.
My husband was lucky, too - he had a very mild case of shingles that started on the arm with a spot that looked like a spider bite. I got worried when the spot grew bigger and insisted he’d see a doctor. Surprise! It was a very early shingles! Horse pills of acyclovir cleared that spot. Ironically, just two weeks prior he discussed getting shingles vaccine with his PCP but the PCP was not sure if it would be covered by our insurance, so we decided to check with the Costco pharmacist during our next trip there.
Many months later, we had our first shot, finally! It was not very bad, but the pharmacist warned us the second would be worse.
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I felt pretty bad after both shots - but I tend to have a strong reaction to any medication.
Reading about how people suffer with shingles (some cannot work) - it was definitely worth going through, for me.
You know we want to hear it, boring or not!
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I don’t tend to react to shots in general, but the 2nd Shingrix shot was pretty rough for me - fever, aches, general yuck. It felt like a really bad flu.
The reaction started about 6 hours after the shot and I had a very rough night but it slowly eased up over the course of the next day. After about 24 hours I was just about back to normal.
W was luckier than me and had almost no reaction.