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OT: your experience with NEW shingles vaccine

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Posted 1/2/2019 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
i'm getting the first of two shingles shots tomorrow. this is the new vaccine and I've heard it makes some people sick. what was your experience?

my insurance is paying for the shot. they don't cover it normally but on a recent doctor visit (reaction to tick bite) I asked her to push the insurance company to pay for the vaccination (>$400), and they did end up covering it!
Posted 1/3/2019 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I had my first shot a few weeks ago. It was the most painful shot I have ever received in my life! It felt like an electric shock was going through my arm into my body. My HMO told me there is a nationwide shortage of the vaccine, so they were very specific about coming back at the end of 6 months for the second shot.

The pain in the shoulder lasted for a week. It was so sore that my sleep was disrupted.

I hope your experience is not anything like mine!

Good luck and Happy New Year.

Jim
Posted 1/3/2019 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on the waiting list
Posted 1/3/2019 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
My wife and I also on waiting list.
Posted 1/3/2019 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I didn't know a 2nd shot was recommended or (required?). I had my 1st shot a year ago with no consequences. News to me.
Posted 1/3/2019 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
I had Shingrix I in July at the same time as pneumococcal vaccine and had two pretty sore arms for a few days. I had Shingrix II in September (2-6 mos after first shot) and my arm did not hurt as bad as the first shot. No sickness at all.

However, my wife had Shringrix I a week ago and came down with flu-like symptoms late the same night. Not sure if it was the shot or the fact she works in schools where flu is rampant but she was sick for a couple of days with fever, headache, etc.

Most insurance covers the shot over 60 but Medicare puts it under Part D so if you get the shot at the doctors’ office, the claim will get rejected and have to be refiled under prescription drug plan (may be automatic with some plans)

They pushed this vaccine out pretty quickly since it was so much more effective than the previous Zostavax vaccine which I had also. There may be more side effects as it gets into widespread use. The waiting list issue appears to be getting better with the clinics around here.
Posted 1/3/2019 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
trainguy -- good thing i'm an electrican! JFL -- there are two shots to complete the vaccination!

I'm getting the first shot tomorrow. i'll keep you all posted.
Posted 1/3/2019 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck tomorrow F8, and keep us informed.

Mumbo, good info about medicare. I had the original Zostavax eight years ago and insurance covered it. Since then I had both Prevnar and pneumovax, plus the fluzone before surgery this past October. I'll ask my GP about Shingrix at my annual physical in April, and ask the VA if they provide it when I have my next annual with them.

I wonder if a butt shot might be less painful than in the arm.
Posted 1/3/2019 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I had the first dose of Shingrix about a month age and am still typing. But I was sleepy for a day afterwards and had some pain around the injection site (upper arm). The pharmacist who 'needled' me had forewarned me about these common side effects.
Here's a link to the website with more info about these side effects:
https://www.shingrix.com/discover-shingrix.html?

SO looking forward to getting my next dose...

Post Edited (Sr Sailor) : 1/2/2019 8:33:50 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/3/2019 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Another link that covers everything by CR:

https://www.consumerreports.org/shingles-vaccine/new-shingles-vaccine-shingrix-what-you-should-know/
Posted 1/3/2019 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
I heard about the second shot...also the second pneumonia shot...ad nausuem...There is so...so much bullshot going on to get every one to cough up more coin...frack em all...again ill take my chances...You better do this ...you better do that...watch out...are you nuts...blah...diddy...blah../blah..blah….chill logo...chill...ok...I feel better now...sums of beaches...ratafratarats...
Posted 1/3/2019 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
I just got the first shingrix shot last Thursday morning and was fine all day. Next day my arm hurt- painful to touch / press but manageable without any painkillers. But I felt tired, worn out, and did not do much, and by afternoon had a low grade fever of about 99.6 I recall. Acetaminophen resolved that and I lounged around for the rest of the day. Saturday morning I was back to normal - except the arm was still sore and today (Wednesday) was the first day it did not hurt and I could go to the gym and do some exercises. The injection is given very high up on the arm - nearly at the shoulder - higher than flu vaccine. I never had much of a reaction to any vaccine - this was the first that impacted me. (no pun intended).

Bottom line - get it early in the day, and plan for relaxing at home the next day
Posted 1/3/2019 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
It always makes me wonder what is going on with such short term SEs from a vaccine. And since I don't know of a good, benign reason for such reactions, it makes me wonder about what longer term effects might be going on under the surface. Does any one really know?
Posted 1/3/2019 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
JFL1957: the old vaccine was a single dose. The "new" vaccine is in 2 doses. I dont know when the new one came out. you may need to check with the place who gave you yours to find out for sure which you got.
Posted 1/3/2019 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
BB, depending on the vaccine type (live, attenuated, killed), the whole theory is that it gives you a "mild" case of the disease to teach your immune system to be ready for the real thing.

So, it would make sense for the shingles vaccine to give you something resembling shingles--pain,itching, low fever, maybe some pustules (like chicken pox).
Posted 1/8/2019 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
the actual shot was a non-event. very little liquid in the syringe. no pain. I went to the coast that night and shot sunset. I felt fine. even had a surf and turf burrito in Santa Cruz before driving home over the mountains.

my arm was a little tender so I took some motrin before going to bed. the next morning I felt tired and as the day progessed I started getting flu-like symptoms and my ears were ringing. by afternoon I was achy and uncomfortable so I took a long nap. felt better afterward. took it easy the rest of the day.

the next morning I felt better so I went to the gym. ran out of energy and motivation quickly so I went home and took the day off.

the following day I felt fine.
Posted 1/9/2019 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
So what is up with the commercials I am seeing inviting us to all join the legal action if the shingles vax gave us shingles? Anything to that? Or just some folks trying to make a buck?
Posted 1/9/2019 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
BB: it's the anti-vaxxers having their day: All vaccines carry the (low) risk of giving someone the disease.
Posted 1/9/2019 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Weird timing, I think. Last Saturday I started getting a real bad itch on my back. It just showed up as a few very red bumps that hurt like hell at times and it showed up out of no where. I have had my gf look at them, not punctures from say a bite, no scrapes, etc. It has not spread and they still hurt like heck at times. I'm guessing its shingles because I could not figure out what it was until I saw this post and started looking into it. I swear, if its not one thing, its another. Its not affecting me except it feels like when you have stiches and you stretch them. Should I just leave it be?
Thx
Posted 1/10/2019 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Idog:
first you need to have your diagnosis confirmed by a GP. He/She may prescribe an antiviral, but as I recall from my own adventures with shingles, this is only helpful early on.
Posted 1/10/2019 12:32 AM (GMT 0)

halbert said...
BB: it's the anti-vaxxers having their day: All vaccines carry the (low) risk of giving someone the disease.

The Shingrix vaccine is a recombinant one; the active agent is derived from the coat of the virus (glycoprotein E). Therefore, it's not possible to get shingles from Shingrix.

Post Edited (Sr Sailor) : 1/10/2019 8:24:12 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 4/6/2019 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
i got my second shingrex shot yesterday and it was much worse than the first one. first off the shot was painful and left my arm very sore and I started getting sick within a few hours. I spent a miserable night tossing and turning and I had the chills so bad at one point I had to put on sweats and I was still freezing.

I took some Tylenol this morning and feel better after eating breakfast. i think i'm through the worst of it.
Posted 4/6/2019 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
My experience is frustrating: I got on the waitlist at Walgreens to get it, they finally called and told me to make an appointment. I did so, and that morning they called and said they didn't have any to give me. My statement that I got a call got me nowhere. Back to the waitlist.
Posted 4/6/2019 8:11 PM (GMT 0)

F8 said...
i got my second shingrex shot yesterday and it was much worse than the first one. first off the shot was painful and left my arm very sore and I started getting sick within a few hours. I spent a miserable night tossing and turning and I had the chills so bad at one point I had to put on sweats and I was still freezing.

I took some Tylenol this morning and feel better after eating breakfast. i think i'm through the worst of it.

Wow, that is an amazingly bad reaction. Is that common?
Posted 4/6/2019 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
I was put on the waitlist about 6 months ago and haven't heard a peep. I should probably call them. But i think i should wait a solid month, as i just got the TDAP vaccine today. My daughters obstetrician told her that anyone who will have close and frequent contact with the baby, (first grandson, due April 29th, ) should get the vaccine.
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