Shingrix and Fever: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Kon...
• February 20, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Oct. 7 - 1st dose. I got ALL the side effects! They started within 6 hours: headache and stomachache. By bedtime, I had chills, shivering, fever, and aches - lasted 3 whole days. Injection site pain a week. Feb. 17 - 2nd dose. Contacted Shingrix pharmacist who said the 2nd dose reaction is worse than the 1st and emailed me a copy of their drug studies info. 2nd dose reaction is tremendously better. I strongly believe it is because I stayed ahead of the side effects. 1½ hours after getting the shot, I took 400mg of Advil as a preventative measure. I took it EVERY 6 hours around the clock to stay ahead of any headache, chills, fever, etc. I did not miss taking Advil or go past 6 hours. In 4 hours, my eyes were tired and very slight headache. 1st night mild chills a little before it was time to take Advil. Next day very tired and my head felt wonky. No fever, shivering, or stomachache. The injection site hurts A LOT! I hope this info helps. Good luck!"

• SIG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "My husband and I both had the first Shingrix vaccine on 8/21/19. He had some arm pain; I could not move my arm after a few hours, and it lasted several weeks. I developed a giant red welt. Only dealt with pain the first time. We had the second injection yesterday around 5:00 pm. By 8:00, I could barely move my arm. By 11:00, I started getting the chills and fever of 102.4. I took ibuprofen, and it knocked the fever down enough so my teeth stopped chattering, and I could attempt sleep. Woke up today with a raging headache; every joint in my body hurts; my stomach is upset, and the fever is still here at 101.5. I’d say I had the flu, but the timing is far too coincidental. Hubby, again, is only feeling arm pain. As awful as this is, it does not hold a candle to shingles! I watched my mother suffer for MONTHS with shingles. She was so miserable in pain, no clothing could touch her legs. I don’t wish that on my worst enemy (well...)."

• Ren...
• September 30, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "First injection resulted in arm soreness, 10 hours later a fever started around 101 degrees, which lasted a day. Not much fun. Second follow-up injection resulted in the same thing. The fever is reminiscent of a flu symptom, not fun at all, but if it prevents a shingles episode, this would have been worth it."

• Lak...
• August 30, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I got my 1st shot on a Thursday, got fever, chills, aching of my entire body, headache, sore arm, and felt awful. My fever went to 102.5, and I alternated ibuprofen and Tylenol. I couldn't sleep and basically felt I had a case of really bad flu. It is Sunday, and I am still running a fever. I am wondering when or if I will feel better. Not anxious to get the 2nd dose in 2 months."

• DrN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I had Zostavax years ago with no problem. Oct 9th '18, I had the 1st Shingrix. It was a painful injection. The next day, my arm was so sore I could hardly move it. I was scheduled to attend a conference that day. I checked into the hotel and went straight to bed. I had fever, chills, and body aches for the next 2 1/2 days. My arm throbbed terribly. The fever, chills, and aches went away, but my arm was sore for 6 weeks. I am a nurse practitioner and believe strongly in the benefits of vaccines, but honestly I am afraid to get the second injection."

• fev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Healthy woman in mid-50s. I have completed the series of both Shingrix shots. I had a very strong immune response both times. Symptoms started about 8 hours after the shot. They included chills, headache, night sweats, weird stabbing pain at different points in the body, and fever up to almost 102 degrees. These symptoms lasted for about 48 hours, and then I felt weak and tired for another day before being back to normal. I spent two days in bed after each shot and generally felt terrible, lying in bed moaning from discomfort. After going through all this, I better not ever get shingles..."

• Sur...
• November 12, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I'm an extremely healthy 59-year-old. I had shingles at age 29. I got the Shingrix yesterday at 9 am. The nurse warned me the shot would burn going in-nope, didn't really even feel it. Went to lunch with a friend, and walking for about 90 minutes. After my hour drive home, I could barely get out of the car. Within a couple of hours, headache, severe nausea had me tossing and turning all night, muscle pain worse than any flu I've had! Even my buttocks hurt-very strange. My feet hurt so bad! Severe chills and shaking, fever 102.2 at 5:30 am. Wasn't able to take Tylenol till this morning because of nausea. This is worse than the shingles I had! I was NOT expecting any of this! Despite this, I will get the second injection-shingles is more severe the older we get. I hope my symptoms don't last as long as others have said. My injection site is sore, red, hard, and swollen, but I expected that and don't consider it a big deal; just moving my arm a lot."

• Not...
• July 27, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Took the first Shingrix shot and will not take the second. 65 years old. Arm was swollen, red, and painful. Felt terrible. I’ve never had a reaction to a vaccine. Headache, joint pain, fever, just way off. Couldn’t sleep. That night, both feet were ice cold and couldn’t get them warm. Ended up with a heating pad on them both. Felt bad, bad, so low for about 2 days."

• Ra_...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2023

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I’m 35, and I have rheumatoid arthritis. The doctor recommended I get a vaccine before starting a new biologic. I’ve had shingles twice in the past. Only adverse reactions to the pertussis vaccine as a kid. Received Shingrix on 4/17/23. 12 hours later, woke with a high fever, felt delirious, and was on the verge of fainting for three hours. Took ibuprofen and Tylenol, which eventually broke the fever. High pulse 147. Then the throat tightness and itching began. Went to urgent care two days in a row, diagnosed with an adverse immune reaction. Placed on prednisone taper after the second visit, the doctor noted throat irritation and both of my arms swelled with a rash. Extremely fatigued, no appetite, high pulse. Throat tightness persisted with itching. Extremely anxiety provoking. As a result, it’s been two weeks since the vaccine, and throat episodes clearing slowly with less frequency and intensity with each passing day. Prescribed EpiPen in case. Living off antihistamines still."

• apo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Update on side effects. (I am 53 yrs old) Was administered vaccine on 5/26/2020 - Wednesday midday feeling chills and later had mild fever - about 100.3 or so. Took a hot shower, felt a little better. Before going to bed, took 2 Tylenol and some ZzzQuil to sleep. This morning woke up soaking with sweat like I had been working out, fever all gone and no chills. Emailed my doctor and he said the 2nd shot is a little more bothersome since you already have the antibodies in your system. It is 4:22 p.m. now and feeling much better - there is still pain in the injection site and it is red, but I don't care about the slight pain - all the other symptoms were a bit worrisome - let's hope to the good Lord all goes well by tomorrow."

• HJa...
• January 8, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I had a bad experience. First shot was painful, and I didn't feel great - but that was the easy part. The day after the second dose, I became very ill, fever of 102, nausea, body aches, horrible headache. That was followed by sharp stabbing pains, pins and needles, itching, sciatic pain, and nerve zaps throughout my body. A week later, a rash appeared on my lower back. I went to urgent care, where I was diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia. The bottoms of my feet became very painful - nerve pain, not muscle pain. Many doctor visits later - no one wants to admit the shot was the culprit. It definitely was. Finally, a few months later, the foot and nerve pains are subsiding. Starting to feel normal again. One doctor surmised that I had an autoimmune reaction to the shot. Beware if you have any autoimmune disorders."

• Red...
• August 23, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "54-year-old woman, within hours after my first dose of Shingrix vaccine, my arm was pretty sore. Then that evening, I was having to apply ice packs directly on both my feet because of the severe burning and stabbing shooting pain in both feet, and my feet were red from where they felt like on fire. I have neuropathy in my feet from being type 2 diabetic, but I never felt such intense burning and sharp pains like I did starting that evening. The next day, after a night of discomfort, extreme fatigue kicked in, and all-over body pain with headache. Day 3, and I've begun a fever and I'm still extremely exhausted with a headache and all-over body pain. My blood sugar is up in the 170s, which is high for me. I've tried even my prescription pain medication for relief, with no results. I go for the 2nd dose in 2 months. They say side effects last about 3 days. I hope I feel better soon. It's a battle between needing sleep from extreme exhaustion."

• MBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "56-year-old female and relatively healthy, other than HBP (high blood pressure). Received first Shingrix shot yesterday, 7/23/20. Low-grade fever started this afternoon (12 hours later), 99.5-99.8. Arm is sore but not terribly so. I feel sluggish but not overly fatigued. The sudden fever gave me pause because of COVID, but then I remembered the side effects listed for the vaccine. Hopefully, this will pass in a day or so. I had shingles when I was 48, and I do not want to experience that again-complete misery for 3 weeks."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "This Shingrix vaccine is horrendous. I just received my 2nd dose, and within 6 hours or so, I was breaking out in a fever sweat with a terrible headache and nausea. Every joint in my body aches so badly I have difficulty even walking. I put off having the 2nd shot after having a similar reaction from the first one. I'm sorry I did, because the 2nd shot has been far worse for me. Terrible vaccine! I'm not a fan of big civil lawsuits normally, but they need to be sued."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2023

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I got the shingles vaccine on June 8. The next morning, I woke up with sharp pain in my throat, as if I was having a throat viral infection. Later that day, on Friday, I started to get chills and a fever of 102.6. I took Tylenol 650 mg, and it kept my fever down to 100, but it did not go lower than this. After 6 hours, the temperature raised again. So, that is how it is going all these days in a circle: 102.6F - Tylenol 650 - 100F, and then all over again. I thought maybe on the fourth day after the injection it would be better - but it is not. My throat is killing me, I have a runny nose, a pounding headache, weakness, nausea, and fever. I have never had anything like this. I am going to contact my doctor to get help, but I am terrified reading the previous reviews. Nobody informed me that these types of things could happen. I cannot judge the effectiveness of the vaccine, but I am not going to take the second injection."

• Fre...
• October 10, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I got my 1st Shingrix in August. Arm was very sore, and the injection was painful, and I ran a fever for a day. Got the 2nd injection yesterday, and the shot was not painful at all, but I ran a fever all night and got nauseous and am still running a fever at present, but better than getting shingles for sure... watched my mom go through them."

• Jen...
• February 23, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Had the first shot in early Oct. felt like rubbish for a couple of days. I am a 72-year-old woman. Had the second shot Feb 22nd. Arm is quite sore, and I spiked a fever of 102.5 overnight. My mom had post-herpetic pain for 15 years, so even had I known I was going to have a strong reaction, I would get it again to never have to end my life in chronic pain."

• RPh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "So I’m 50 years old and just got my second dose of Shingrix this past Friday, 07/24/20, at 9:15 a.m. The first dose prevented me from going back to work the next day, but I feel like the symptoms got better quickly. This second dose, I started having side effects later in the evening. Fever, body aches so bad that I couldn’t sleep well, nor could I do my normal activities. Thank goodness I got this shot on a Friday. On Saturday, still had body aches real bad and I switched from Advil to Tylenol. The Tylenol seemed to help better with the body aches. But I pretty much just laid around and watched TV. I checked my temperature and it showed 100.1°F. Sunday, I am feeling a little better, but still having body aches, but I think I might be able to get some work done on the computer today, hopefully."

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "The doctors that I worked with - my primary and ER room didn't relate my side effects to the vaccination. They all thought it might be something else. I think this vaccine needs to be recalled for further research. Did my shot 27 Aug 19. The first week was manageable. Had: pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site the first week. Started from second week: 05 Sep 19 - 18 Sep 19 - one week after the shot: strong muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, high fever, no appetite, flu-like symptoms, difficulty in the chest when inhaling, abdominal and chest pain. On Advil 3-4 times a day. Went to emergency - left with a diagnosis: fever of unknown origin. Not good bloodwork. Fever during 16 days 101.3. Now temp is okay during the day but in the evening 98.96 with some chills. Again have to take Advil as I can’t sleep with fever. Sweating each night a lot. Out of the office for two weeks. Lost 10 pounds. It seems I would need 2 more weeks to recover. Not doing a second shot as 4 weeks of being sick is too much."

• oal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "50 y/o female, 3 days out from the vaccination. Side effects started 5 hours after the injection. 2nd day was absolutely horrible, today is slightly better. 101 fever, joint/muscle pain, severe headache, injection site pain, fatigue, diarrhea. Get the vaccination when you know you have some recovery time. Be prepared to not accomplish anything or go anywhere for those days. Stock up on easy, soothing foods/beverages as you will have zero energy to drive/shop/cook and may very well have an upset stomach. Do NOT get it at the same time as your spouse. One of you needs to be able to fully function/drive/take care of the other. You can trade places in a couple of weeks. :) Think about which side you want it on. I chose my left since I am right-handed, but that came back to bite me since I prefer to sleep on my left side. I gave it a low 'star' rating simply because of the harsh side effects, but I'll deal with this over getting shingles any day of the week."

• Sic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I received 1st shot 7/17/2019. It is now 9/7/2019 and I still have severe side effects which started the next day. Started out with mild fever, flu-like symptoms, and severe joint aches. Shoulders, neck, hips. My fever is gone, however, joint aches in the AM especially are so severe they have me on prednisone 40 mg, which helps a little. I can’t do much, getting out of a chair is very hard to do or lift my arms. This shot awakened a nightmare in my body. I would like to know how long this will go on. Is there anyone else that feels like a Mac truck hit them? I am a 73-year-old and hate to think I have to live the rest of my life like this."

• Car...
• September 3, 2020

"I had the first Shingrix shot along with a flu shot last week, Aug. 28, a Thursday. Started feeling unwell by Saturday and have felt bad for one week now - extreme tiredness, bad headaches, flu-like feelings, maybe a mild fever. I did not suspect the Shingrix/flu vaccines for several days. I just thought I had been overworking and needed to rest, so I did and have felt very under the weather all week. Hoping tomorrow will be better. I wish I had gotten the vaccines separately, but not sure this would have helped. Be aware that you could have symptoms afterward."

• Fri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "40-year-old female who is active and is in good general health. Having a history of seasonal allergies is what caused me to develop a weakened immune system. I developed shingles in July 2020. 1st Shingrix vaccine received on 10/11/20. I had no side effects other than a sore arm and fatigue for 1-2 days. 2nd Shingrix vaccine received on 12/11/20. Within 12 hours after receiving this injection, I developed severe chills... I had to sleep with my winter coat on while my comforter was over me... that is how cold I got. Once the chills ended, the fever began, and I had fever all night of 102 degrees... my comforter was now soaked from sweat. I took Tylenol and the fever was reduced. The side effects of the vaccine are strong but temporary. Shingles is a painful virus to have, and so the vaccine side effects are not that bad. I'm glad I took the vaccine... it was definitely worth it for me."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I’m a healthy, active 51-year-old woman. Had my 1st Shingrix vaccine in August. Only had a sore arm and maybe a little tiredness from it. Had the 2nd several days ago, and within 10 hours, extreme fatigue hit, my arm was so sore I could barely move it, I was in bed shivering uncontrollably, had a terrible headache and nausea. Had a fever up to 102 for the next 24 hours. I felt horrible!! Could barely move the next day as every joint hurt. It has been 3 days, my arm feels much better, but am still tired, achy, and have a headache. I hope the vaccine was worth it."

• ama...
• October 17, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I will not get the 2nd vaccine (especially after reading other reviews). I do not believe a vaccine should make anyone so sick. They need to go back to the lab and figure out what can be done to reduce side effects. I am a healthy 60-year-old runner, very healthy. This vaccine has had me in bed for two days with fever, muscle pain, headache, and severe chills. Something is wrong with this vaccine. It scares me to hear about some people feeling ill for a long time. It scares me to think of what I put in my body."