Did you have a shingles vaccine reaction? (parents, American, receive)

[kavm]

Originally Posted by Roselvr

I wonder where they get those numbers from especially when you don't know how many people would not have gotten shingles to begin with.

Clinicaltrials.gov has results of all clinical trials. I have not looked specifically for shingles vaccine, but the reports are very detailed, albeit a bit technical. Obviously, the studies are done on a large enough sample size so that population averages can be applied appropriately.

PS: It is a good website - and includes even clinical trials that are being planned and are in the recruitment phase.

[volosong]

Originally Posted by rodentraiser

But I was curious, if anyone else has gotten the shots, did you have a reaction to them? Or is it, as my mother likes to point out, just me?

The Shingles vaccination I received was just a single shot and I had no reaction to receiving it. I cannot address your second question.

[kavm]

Originally Posted by volosong

The Shingles vaccination I received was just a single shot and I had no reaction to receiving it. I cannot address your second question.

Volasong - You likely received the older Zostavax vaccine. Depending upon age and certain other factors, it might make sense for you to receive the new Shingrix vaccine. Please research and/or discuss with your doctor.

The following is excerpted from the link below from the CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shi...rix/index.html

Healthy adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. You should get Shingrix even if in the past you

• had shingles
• received Zostavax
• are not sure if you had chickenpox

There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.

[Southern man]

Originally Posted by volosong

The Shingles vaccination I received was just a single shot and I had no reaction to receiving it. I cannot address your second question.

Sounds like you got the old shot. The new one is Two shots and supposed to be much more effective.

[volosong]

I did have chickenpox as a child. Do I still need the new shot?

[kavm]

I am not a doctor but I'd guess yes. It seems that the chickenpox virus goes dormant in the body and reactivates itself later in age to become shingles. So, chickenpox in childhood would seem to indicate that you are at risk of shingles and should definitely get the new vaccine. But please check with doctor or pharmacist, just in case.

From the link in the previous post - Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus (varicella zoster virus). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles.

[silibran]

Originally Posted by Steve McDonald

Shingles mainly caused me deep itching and occasional sores on my back. Zostavax did nothing for me. The night after my second Shingrix shot was one of the worst I've ever spent. I had a fever and not a minute of sleep. I didn't think it had worked very well, but a year later, I realize that the itching and sores are gone. So perhaps you have to be patient about the results.

Wait, what? You got a Shingrix when you already had shingles?

[silibran]

Originally Posted by volosong

I did have chickenpox as a child. Do I still need the new shot?

If you don’t want to get shingles, yes. Only people who have had chicken pox are likely to get shingles.

But speak with a doc about this.

[cocomojo]

First shot my arm hurt for 2-3 days ... not bad at all. I'm going to get the second shot Monday morning and will report back later in the week.

[Southern man]

Originally Posted by volosong

I did have chickenpox as a child. Do I still need the new shot?

I would get the new shots. I have had shingles, you don’t want shingles. I got the old shot several years back, after I recovered from the shingles. I am now in the process of getting the new shots, have had the first.