I got my vaccine on a Friday, felt headachy and rundown all weekend. By Tuesday I was getting an outbreak. I hadn't had one in a pretty long time and I take acyclovir when I do. Coincidence or a side effect of the vaccine?
Can the shingles vaccine cause a genital herpes outbreak?
Question posted by artsyrsc on 13 Nov 2014
Last updated on 12 March 2025
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
78 Answers Page 2
Brentrinmn
2 March 2023
I had my 1st Shingrix dose on Friday. Today is Wednesday of the following week and I have had what seems like a herpes reactivation on my penis, and it is getting worse. At first I thought it was because of a cystoscopy I had the same day, but it just struck me that the timing was a little too coincidental. I mentioned it to my uro doc, but she didn’t know anything. I messaged my infectious disease Dr about this via message tonight. Hopefully, I get a script for Valtrex tomorrow before I leave Mayo Clinic. I would have passed on the shot had I known. I will forgo the second. Not great for someone who just has a cancer diagnosis. I don’t need this right now.
microscopic
15 Nov 2022
I got my shingles vaccine 14 days ago and three day ago I got the beginning tingle and now all the nerves in my left lower back and buttocks are going crazy. I am trying to head off the actual open sores with acyclovir. I haven't had an outbreak in years and I am so disappointed, no one told me that this was a possible side effect.
Pajorena
30 Oct 2022
I had my shingrix on Tuesday. On Friday, my herpes outbreak was so bad I thought I might have shingles!
ResaW
23 Aug 2022
I have had oral Herpes for ages, but I was fastidious about not infecting my genitals and for decades thought I had succeeded.
After the 2nd shot of Shingrix I developed genital herpes (not warts as I'd hoped) :-/
These outbreaks are more common than they ever were on my mouth and I'm sad.
Not saying correlation means causation by any means, but I thought I should add this bit of anecdotal evidence for this question.
Snowy-8
9 May 2022
Absolutely! I've lived with herpes since the 1970's. Fortunately I learned early on to use lysine as a suppressant and it has worked well for me for years, about 1000 mg a day, increasing when I had an occasional outbreak. (Have you read the side effects of all those Rx meds for herpes?!) I've had very rare outbreaks, walnuts especially could cause one, but generally eating a healthy diet and getting enough rest, avoiding stress as much as possible, etc.all help. The crucial point to remember when you have herpes is that lysine and arginine need to be in balance in your body. Read about arginine benefits online. Nuts are high in arginine, as well as chocolate and a lot of other foods. So I got the second Shingrix shot (no problem with the first), and within a week I started getting herpes outbreaks which continued for about 8 weeks. Fortunately I found this site and it confirmed my suspicions -- the Shingrix caused it -- I have absolutely no doubt.
I increased my lysine to 3000 mg a day (occasionally 3500). I had to tip the scales in favor of lysine for a time. I've finally gotten rid of the herpes for 2 weeks and will try my last gradual decrease back from 1500 mg to 1000 this week. The other thing I discovered was that increasing my lysine affected my sexual response in a very negative way, which REALLY made me mad because I had just gotten back with an old lover and things had been going well. And when I read about arginine I knew that was the reason, because arginine increases blood flow to the genital area and enhances orgasm. I added a few cashews and some chocolate this week very carefully, while still taking 1500 mg of lysine, and guess what!? Back to my pre-Shingrix/normal lysine dose sexual responsiveness, by adding just a little arginine. Yay! Two very happy people here! :) The manufacturers of Shingrix don't tell us about the herpes side effects but they SHOULD. I was glad I found this site and wanted to share what I've learned with all. At first I thought it was me or a problem in the relationship and I was extremely depressed to think that I might be stuck where I was forever, but nope, just lysine to get rid of the horrible issues caused by Shingrix. Best wishes to all! Hope this helps. PS I would still have gotten the Shingrix because I don't want shingles, but I might have timed it better for my life and I would have known what to expect and how to deal with it.
hoffgrad
1 Feb 2023
I too have to avoid high arginine foods as much as possible because sure enough they will trigger the herpes viral symptoms. I have had so many outbreaks and I always only get one cold sore on my back... have for years when I am run down or am having a fibromyalgia flare. You get to learn how to join the dots as you get older, don't you, about your own health. I have found the only brand of lysine that really works quickly is by Pure Encapsulates. I also take 1000mg per day. A specialist once suggested that I should take a daily antiviral prophylactically but I don't like the idea of taking that constantly, as it interferes with another medication I take long term. I messaged my GP's practice this morning to ask if I can have the shingrix vaccine, even though I am in my 60's (with NHS it is free for over 70's), this is because I have an auto immune condition and get the viral symptoms very frequently now. I also get terrible brain fog too... the specialist told me this is due to inflammation in the brain. Another symptoms of herpes.
Sugar13
28 Feb 2022
I am 50, diagnosed with HSV2 thru blood work a few years ago, but never had an outbreak before. I got 2nd Shingrix a couple of weeks ago. Arm pain and body aches with fatigue for a couple of days…then a genital outbreak. I had no clue what it was since I’ve never had an outbreak before. Luckily it was small and minimal pain. Coincidence? I didn’t think so until I read here.
thrown718
25 Sep 2023
How's it been going since? If you don't mind sharing an update.
jaxonp
16 Jan 2022
I wish I would have found this site earlier. It happened to me too. Had the 1st Shingrix vax on 12/29, now on 1/15 I have an outbreak right on the penis. I have immediately started taking Acyclovir 2x/day and noitfied my Physician. (waiting for a response) So very disappointed. This side-affect possibility should be shared with anyone considering Shingrix.
Em6638
15 Jan 2022
Something happened to me a herpes outbreak after the Shingles Vaccine. I Had not had outbreak in 15 yrs.
thrown718
1 Oct 2023
Hi. Sorry to hear that. How are you doing since?
Salsify
7 Jan 2022
Just had my second Shingrix shot yesterday. I am a 67 year old female who developed genital herpes around age 35. I got tired of frequent recurrences and have been successfully taking 1 gm. of Valacyclovir daily for ages to suppress it. I was taking Zovirax twice daily before but have trouble remembering to take medications more than once a day on a regular basis.
Hearing about the pain a friend dealt with as he recovered from shingles prompted me to finally get the vaccine. Other people I know who had gotten the first one were now scheduling their Shingrix shots, so I figured that is the one I should get.
I had no issues with the first shot and so far none with the second. I don't usually react strongly to vaccines, though, anyway. The only one I remember having any trouble with was a recent pneumonia shot; I thought I might never move my arm again - but the next day it was back to normal.
If I have herpes trouble in the next several days, though, I will post an update.
SEM42
7 Jan 2022
Shingrix is against varicella zoster virus, genital herpes is HSV-2 or HSV-1. So it is unlikely shingrix will protect you from GH outbreaks. For me, when I got my first Shingrix, I had a huge reaction that has gone on for months. You are lucky to have no reaction.
Salsify
8 Jan 2022
SEM42, I am aware that while the various herpes viruses are related, they are not the same. I understood this thread to have been discussing the - coincidental or otherwise - relationship between the shingles vaccine and genital herpes outbreaks. I know everyone is weighing the benefits vs the risks of the vaccine, so I wanted others to know not everyone has a bad experience. Beyond a day or two of feeling a little funky for a couple of people, none of the dozen or more people I have discussed it with have had any problems. Only a few of them have dealt with genital herpes that I know of, though, although it isn't something we necessarily share with everyone, so regarding that aspect I can only speak for myself. I am sorry to hear to hear your experience is not the same - I hope your issues resolve soon.
Meds29
15 Sep 2023
There are post from people who who received previous shingles vaccine and no longer have breakouts.
SEM42
6 Jan 2022
Yes it can. I got my first dose of Shingrix and it has induced HSV symptoms that are ongoing for the last 2 months. and spreading. it's awful. Places I never had symptoms, now I have them. I took high dose valacyclovir for almost 6 weeks, but the symptoms continued to slowly spread and would burst out when I stopped or lowered my dose. Creatine helps a little but not enough to end this. Tomorrow I will buy lysine and see if that helps. Any other suggestions welcome.
for anyone reading this: if you get a strong vaccine (shingrix, corona), TAKE VALACYCLOVIR AT THE TIME YOU GET THE VACCINE, A HIGH DOSE LIKE 2 GM. and keep taking it for about 2 days. this should help block any reactivation. I wish I had known.
While Shingles/varicella and HSV are not the same virus, and while the Shingrix vaccine has no virus in it (it's just a protein), the vaccine can clearly induce both HSV and varicella. Perhaps it is the fever. or the adjuvant in the vaccine, but the effect is horrible and dramatic. The depressing thing is that Zostavax made from the oka virus is actually protective against HSV. But I thought I was doing this great thing getting the stronger Shingrix vaccine. Big mistake - now I'm in a herpes hell with no end in sight.
thrown718
25 Sep 2023
Has it gotten better? The HSV that is. Still having breakouts and/or taking antivirals?
tdickson31
22 July 2021
I had dose one of Shingrix one week ago. I have had two mild genital outbreaks in new areas on my penis. I had injection site pain for 2 days. I was fatigued and had headaches for 2 days. I had a bout of fatigue 5 days after the shot so severe I almost passed out while walking. I had another outbreak on penis 6 days after the vaccine. I was only having an outbreak about 1 time yearly prior to the vaccine. I’ve had HSV2 since 1984. I believe the outbreaks are most certainly related to the vaccine. I will probably pass on dose two.
oldlady2
30 March 2021
My 28 year old cousin had the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine on 3/15/21 and 10 days later got a rash on his abdomen and back. He was diagnosed with shingles. I had my second Pfizer dose on 3/17 and now have a herpes outbreak. Mild but still painful. I am 68. Has anyone else had outbreaks after their Covid inoculation?
SEM42
7 Jan 2022
A friend of mine got mouth sores all over after her CoV shot and the tingling remained for a year. things that helped: take valacyclovir for 1-2 days starting at the time of the shot (not when you already have symptoms). and creatine about 5 gm got rid of the tingling.
Ddeedled
30 Jan 2021
I am 67 and had the Zostavax vaccine 5+ years ago, before Shingrix came out. After over 25 years of dormancy, within weeks of the shot my herpes returned in the same spot on my bottom and every month. I took Valtrex for outbreaks, then daily for 6 months as prescribed by my dermatologist. They are less frequent now, maybe every 3-4 months, but 4 - 500mg Valtrex in 24 hrs at the first sign, clears it up.
So, for those thinking that the original vaccine “healed” the outbreaks, that was not my case. I also had a mild case of shingles in Aug 2020 on my hand (which they first diagnosed as COVID-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19 because I had a fever and thought the rash was eczema). Doctors always said the herpes outbreaks were not related to the vaccine but I was never convinced.
Now that they are pushing me to have the Shingrix series and I have read this post, I am going to pass and pray my mild experience with shingles will be my last.
ColoraturaKiki
9 Nov 2020
The virus that causes shingles and the virus that causes herpes are related viruses. They have 70 genes in common, so they are kind of like siblings. So, it is not at all surprising that when one is vaccinated against shingles, one acquires some immunity to herpes as well. However, this only appears to hold true with the older, Zostavax vaccine. The newer vaccine, Shingrex, appears to actually cause outbreaks of herpes, at least for a time. So, if anyone is considering being vaccinated against shingles, I would advise them to try to get the older, Zostavax vaccine. There is no hard and fast scientific data that says Zostavax will prevent outbreaks of herpes, both HSV1 and HSV2, but real life data points to the fact that it does.
SEM42
7 Jan 2022
Does anyone know if zostavax after a shingrix vaccine is still protective? I had a round of shingrix and it is causing all kinds of problems. I would love it if the zostavax solved some of these but I don't know if or how a prior shingrix would interfere with the zostavax vaccine. If anyone has done this, I would love to hear about their experiences.
PNWsojourner
22 Oct 2020
I thought I answered yesterday, but it is nowhere to be found. If this is a duplicate, I will try and delete it.
My Whitlow was tested and found to be a type 1 herpes infection of the finger. I first got it as a child because I had oral cold sores and bit my nails to the quick - often until they bled. I have had random outbreaks on that same finger, up and down that same finger, for about 40 years.
I was once diagnosed with HSV2, but I don't get recurring outbreaks on that.
Just under 4 weeks ago, I got the Shingrix vaccine. This week, I have the most painful Whitlow outbreak I can recall having in a LONG time and to make things more confusing, it isn't on my finger. It is just below the web and crease where the finger meets the palm of the hand. What a terrible place to have it, because the radiated pain is no longer just the finger. It is the palm and adjoining fingers.
It freaked me out so I started doing Google searches hoping to see if this is related to the Shingrix vaccine.
I see in the comments that there isn't a reason to think the harder/relocated outbreak is related, other than my immunity being stressed by the vaccine. It doesn't make sense with what I am seeing and feeling, but I guess I have to accept that.
HOPEFULLY, the booster shot will have no such coincidences and HOPEFULLY I will be one of the lucky who stop having HSV1 outbreaks afterwards.
BTW: I am glad I got the vaccine. With my having been infected with two types of the herpes virus outbreaks in my life, I surely didn't need another.
PNWsojourner
30 March 2021
UPDATE: I had 3 more outbreaks on my finger during the period between the two vaccines. However, the following 3 outbreaks were milder than any I ever had and were shortlived (just several days each).
I got my second SHINGRIX vaccine two months and three weeks ago and since then I have not had a single outbreak. NADA. I went from four outbreaks within 3 low-stress months to zero outbreaks in the 2.75 very stress-filled (awful) months following the last SHINGRIX shot
Coincidence? Maybe. But I will gladly take it.
PNWsojourner
30 March 2021
Also adding: The two Shingrix vaccines did NOT at any time trigger my dormant HSV-2
SEM42
7 Jan 2022
It seems you had the zostavax vaccine not Shingrix, is that right? zostavax is known to be protective. shingrix was ok'd by the FDA in 2017 and is much more specific. Can you comment on which vaccines you have had?
Related topics
herpes simplex - suppression, herpes zoster, acyclovir, herpes, vaccine
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- Side effects of Acyclovir (detailed)
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