I am a pretty sure I can't work up the nerve to get the follow up shot as this made me pretty sick for days- maybe some one can tell me whether the side effects are muted with the second dose since our bodies should be more accustomed to it?
Shingrix - Is the booster (follow up dose) as bad as the side effects produced with the first dose?
Question posted by DReed333 on 21 May 2018
Last updated on 22 August 2022
4 Answers
NaNaPatricia
7 May 2022
i had no reaction to the first Shingrix vac. i waited 3 months to get the 2nd dose-that was yesterday. today I was freezing all over, especially my extremities, i put on my snow gear,,, im in N CA & its Spring... May! this went on for a few hours. i'm finally starting to warm a bit... what a horrifying experience! but, i do NOT want to get Shingles, so i would get the shot again...
however, it was very scary NOT to find another with my reaction online.
jdsn
22 Aug 2022
I had the exact re-action you had. I thought the first one was bad, horrifying experience sums it up perfectly. Doubtful I will do this again.
DReed333
30 June 2021
@Kathleen1956. Your response to the second dose more matched my symptoms from the first dose..so if the second is worse I am glad that I never got it!!! I also had the 2 Pfizer Covid shots with no side effects. Seems to me they could make a Shingles vaccine that is not so really awful sickening. I'll wait as I would never want to go through that again..I am not sure it is actually that safe as it makes too many people unwell.
Flygirl1523
30 Dec 2021
@DReed333
Did you end up getting the second dose? I had an awful reaction to the first one and I'm terrified to get the second shot? Just curious if you went through with it and, if so, what results you experienced.
DReed333
31 Dec 2021
No I never got the second dose and don’t plan to as I don’t believe it is safe enough for me. I had some lasting medical issues after that first one and I can’t be sure that Shingrix not at all responsible. Shingles can be treated quite well if caught early so I am alert to it and will try that route. IMO all of the Covid vaccines are more tolerated and safer than Shingrix which probably should not have been approved.
Kathleen1956
29 June 2021
I think everyone is different but I can tell you I've had several vax over my nursing career and both Pfizer Covid vaccines did not produce any side effects at all. However, the first Shingrix left a hardened lump the size of my palm. It was red, raised and extremely itchy. That was it. I had the 2nd Shingrix a week ago and while I had the same side effects as the first, I also had 4 days of fevers ranging from 100.5 to 102.4. My usual temp runs low at 97.5
I have never been so miserable. Finally fever, chills, headache, fatigue and anorexia gone but I still have the itchy lumpy arm. My immune system really reacted this time. But shingles aren't something I want so I'd get the vax again.
PharmaGenius
21 May 2018
Clinical trials showed that your body could suffer the same side effects as the first shot or you could just be fine, there is no way to know for sure. However, it is worth the risk. Do you know how painful shingles is if you do get it? (And alot of people do) you can risk having severe nerve pain for months (even more than a year for 1/5th of the population) and you will be put on medications for nerve pain which have a very bad side effect profile and can cause excessive weight gain, constant drowsiness, nausea and headaches.
Related topics
herpes zoster - prophylaxis, side effect, dosage, nerve, shingrix
Further information
- Shingrix uses and safety info
- Shingrix prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Shingrix (detailed)
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