Make A Plan To Get 2 Doses
- You can get Shingrix at your doctors office or pharmacy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting Shingrix.
- Plan to get your second dose of Shingrix 2 to 6 months after your first dose.
Five years later, I still take prescription medication for pain. My shingles rash quickly developed into open, oozing sores that in only a few days required me to be hospitalized. I could not eat, sleep, or perform even the most minor tasks. It was totally debilitating. The pain still limits my activity levels to this day.
A 63-year-old harpist who was unable to continue playing due to shingles
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What Does The Shingles Vaccine Do
The shingles vaccine can prevent shingles. Every year, about 1 million people in the United States get shingles. Anyone whos had chickenpox can get shingles. Thats because the varicella-zoster virus lives silently in your nervous system after you’ve had chickenpox. The virus can reactivate later in your life if your immune system is weakened. Your risk of getting shingles goes up as you get older. In the United States, 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime.
What Are The Advantages Of Getting The Shingles Vaccine
The shingles vaccine reduces your risk of getting shingles. Shingles causes a painful rash that usually develops on one side of your body or face. Some people describe the pain as an intense burning or shooting sensation. The rash is often a single strip that wraps around one side of your body or is on one side of your face. It consists of blisters that normally crust over in seven to 10 days. The rash generally clears up within a month.
Some people with shingles also experience additional symptoms including fever, headache, chills or upset stomach.
For some people, the pain from the rash can last for months or even years after the rash goes away. This long-term pain is called postherpetic neuralgia , and it is the most common complication of shingles.
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Redness At Injection Site
Redness at and around the injection site is common and may appear immediately or some days after receiving Shingrix. This redness commonly develops due to a localized immune system response, which shouldnt cause further concern.
Arm redness should disappear within a few days after receiving the vaccine. However, if you experience redness with a rash or severe pain, let your doctor know as soon as possible.
Considerations For Patients Who Previously Received Zostavax
Studies have not examined the safety and immunogenicity of Shingrix administered less than 5 years following Zostavax vaccination. However, there are no data or theoretical concerns to indicate that Shingrix would be less safe or less effective when given at an interval shorter than 5 years following Zostavax. Since the risk of herpes zoster increases with age, providers should weigh a patients risk of herpes zoster with the age-specific protection expected from Zostavax to determine when to vaccinate with Shingrix.
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What Are Shingles Symptoms
Before we talk about the vaccine, let’s look at the virus. The hallmark of shingles is a blistering rash in a single stripe, but often pain and itching is felt on the skin days before the rash actually appears. Other symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, and upset stomach. Shingles can cause severe pain for days, weeks, or even months, says Dr. Weisenberg. It can be especially serious if it affects an area such as the eye, potentially leading to blindness. Preventing an outbreak with the vaccine is a smart move, he adds.
Are Side Effects Worse After The Second Covid Vaccine
For many recipients, side effects are worse after the second dose, says Anderson. Local inflammation from the bodys inflammatory response leads to redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at the injection siteaka arm pain.
When enough of these substances are released, muscle aches can occur and you begin to feel tired, Anderson explains, With the second dose, your immune system is really fired up and ready to immediately and forcefully respond to the vaccine components. However, he adds, this is a good sign your body is mounting a strong immune response. And if you dont have any side effects from the vaccine, it doesnt mean the vaccine didnt work or that you have a weak immune system. The protective immunity afforded by the vaccines takes longer to develop and isnt associated with these side effects, Anderson says.
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When They Start How Long They Last
The shingles vaccine is given in a two-shot series. You may experience side effects after the first, second, or both shots. Most of the time, these symptoms are mild and occur immediately following vaccination. They typically only last for two or three days.
Side effects of the shingles vaccine are more common in younger people, and might interrupt your normal daily activities for a few days.
This may seem like a downside of the shingles vaccine, but remember that these symptoms are a result of the creation of a strong shingles defense within your body.
It is OK to take Tylenol or Advil after a shingles vaccine to relieve symptoms. Rest and plenty of fluids may help, too.
When Should I Get The Shingles Vaccine
You can get the shingles vaccine even if you do not know if you had chickenpox. You can also get the vaccine even if you have already had shingles.
- The recombinant zoster vaccine is a 2-dose series. The second dose is given 2 to 6 months after the first dose. Adults 50 years or older and adults 19 years and older with a weakened immune system may get the vaccine. You can also get this vaccine if you were given the live zoster vaccine before. This vaccine does not contain any live virus.
- The live zoster vaccine is no longer used in the US but may be used in other countries. This vaccine may be used if you have not received the shingles vaccine before. The vaccine is given in 1 dose to adults age 60 years or older. The vaccine may also relieve pain if you get shingles even after you get the vaccine.
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Shingles Vaccine Side Effects: What To Expect
Shingles is a commonand preventableviral illness that can cause significant discomfort and serious health complications, including vision loss and long-term pain.
Caused by a reactivation of varicella zoster, the virus that causes chickenpox, shingles most often affects adults older than 50 years.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that healthy adults ages 50 years and older get the Shingrix vaccine. Shingrix is also approved for people 18 years and older whose immune system is weakened or compromised by a medical condition or immune-suppressing medications . Two doses of the vaccine, administered 2 to 6 months apart, are required for full vaccination.
You can get the Shingrix vaccine even if you:
- Dont know if you have had chickenpox
- Have had shingles
- Previously had the Zostavax vaccine
Will The Injection Site Be Sore
As with many vaccines, you may experience some soreness, redness, and mild swelling in the arm where you were administered the shot . To soothe it, ice the area. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever or anti-inflammatory such as Tylenol or Advil. If you develop itchiness on your arm, you can take an anti-histamine such as Benadryl, says Dr. Lee. When should you be concerned? If the area is blistering or has a lot of redness, call your physician to make sure youre not developing a skin infection, she advises.
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Who Shouldnt Receive Shringrix
Although vaccines go through rigorous safety testing to ensure they are safe, they arent suitable for everyone. You shouldnt receive Shingrix if you:
- have an active shingles infection
- have a severe illness or a fever of 101.3°F or higher
- have had a severe allergic reaction to Shingrix or any ingredient in the vaccine
- have no immunity to varicella based on a blood test carried out for other reasons
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
If you currently have shingles, another serious illness, or a fever of 101.3°F , wait until these issues have resolved to receive a Shingrix vaccination.
Side Effects Of The Shingles Vaccine
Shingles is a common disease, affecting about 1 out of 3 adults during their lifetime.
Shingles is most common among older adults. However, shingles can also occur in healthy younger adults and in children. Those with immune systems that have been weakened by HIV, AIDS, cancer or treatment with certain drugs are also at an increased risk of getting shingles. Shingles causes a painful rash and blisters and can lead to serious complications, including post-herpetic neuralgia.
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Shingles Vaccine Side Effects
Like all vaccines, the shingles vaccines can cause side effects, but they’re generally mild and do not last long.
Common side effects that occur in at least 1 in 10 people are:
- redness, pain, swelling, itching and warmth at the injection site
If any side effects carry on for longer than a few days, speak to your GP or practice nurse.
Tell your GP if you develop a rash after having the shingles vaccination.
When Should I Schedule The Shots
Knowing that you may feel a bit off after getting the shot, pick your vaccine dates carefully. I tell my patients to choose a day for each shot when they know theyre not going to be doing much in the following days, says Dr. Lee. I don’t recommend you take it before your wedding or a really awesome vacation. Ideally, schedule each dose on a Friday so you have the weekend to recoup, she adds. You have a two-to-six-month window to get your second shot. If you go past the six-month mark, tell your doc and schedule it ASAP.
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Allergic Reaction To Shingles Vaccination
There is a very small chance of a severe allergic reaction to the shingles vaccine, as there is with other vaccines.
Anaphylaxis is very serious and potentially life-threatening, but it can be treated. All healthcare staff that deliver vaccinations are trained in this. With prompt treatment, people fully recover from anaphylaxis.
Itchy Skin Near The Injection Site
Itchy skin, also called pruritus, can potentially occur near the injection site after receiving Shingrix. Itching, swelling, and redness arent usually a huge cause for concern, as they often occur together as a localized reaction.
Applying Benadryl gel or hydrocortisone cream around the injection area can help reduce itchy, swollen, or red skin. If the itching worsens or spreads away from the injection site, get in touch with your doctor.
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Is It Normal For My Shoulder To Hurt After A Covid
The most common side effects from vaccination, including the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, are mild.
Its very common to experience some temporary soreness where you receive an injection. But an estimated 1 to 2 million people who are vaccinated each year with just the flu shot experience severe shoulder pain and limited range of motion. That number is larger when factoring in all the various vaccinations beyond just the flu vaccine. The number is also expected to as vaccination numbers increase worldwide.
Such severe reactions to vaccines are very rare, but they do occur.
One condition that may result is known as shoulder injury related to vaccine administration . This can occur within 48 hours of vaccination.
Symptoms may include:
- weakness or altered sensation in the arm
- shoulder stiffness
SIRVA can result in chronic or sometimes permanent injury to the arm and shoulder. Some studies have found that the symptoms of SIRVA may last at least 6 months.
Most cases of SIRVA appear to be caused by poor needle placement by the person administering the vaccine or a localized reaction to the vaccine serum.
The Immunization Action Coalition provides information on vaccine administration based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidance:
For most people, getting a vaccine is a simple procedure that causes few if any side effects. Some people may experience the following effects after receiving a vaccine:
SIRVA symptoms usually arise within 48 hours of vaccination.
Is The Shingles Vaccine Safe
The FDA have approved the use of both shingles vaccines in healthy adults over the age of 50.
However, there are some instances in which a person should not get either vaccine â if they are pregnant or breastfeeding, allergic to any ingredient in the vaccine, or have a weakened immune system, for example.
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Administrative Hassles In Addition To Side Effects
Dr. Carla Perissinotto, associate professor and associate clinical chief in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, wrote in an email that she has seen few patients get the vaccine due to the complexities of reimbursement through Medicare.
You have to bill the patient and then submit to Medicare, said Perissinotto, who was not involved in the new CDC report. It is administratively difficult for clinics to store Shingrix and then bill Medicare.
Based on discussion among the few of my colleagues who have experience with the shingles vaccine, she believes Shingrix has not caused severe or numerous side effects: so far, it has seemed well tolerated.
We would use more if the payment structure were easier. Which means that many of our patients, who would benefit, are not getting what they need.
Dr. Alison Moore, chief of geriatrics and gerontology at UC San Diego Health, told CNN in an email that she regularly recommends the vaccine given its effectiveness and superiority over the prior version of the vaccine, Zostavax, a live CDC-recommended vaccine for adults age 60 and older.
Because Shingrix is not a live vaccine, more people can have it, added Moore, who was not involved in the CDC report.
How Long Does Your Arm Hurt After A Vaccine
Arm pain is likely to begin within 24 hours of vaccination and lasts a few days after the vaccine is administered, says Anderson. A sore arm after a COVID shot is the most common side effect, and according to Anderson, only 25% of vaccinated people report experiencing side effects other than arm pain.
Heres how long injection site soreness can last for common vaccines:
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How Cdc Monitors Vaccine Safety
CDC and FDA monitor the safety of vaccines after they are approved or authorized. If a problem is found with a vaccine, CDC and FDA will inform health officials, health care providers, and the public.
CDC uses 3 systems to monitor vaccine safety:
- The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System : an early warning system, co-managed by CDC and FDA, to monitor for potential vaccine safety problems. Anyone can report possible vaccine side effects to VAERS.
- The Vaccine Safety Datalink : a collaboration between CDC and 9 health care organizations that conducts vaccine safety monitoring and research.
- The Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project: a partnership between CDC and several medical research centers that provides expert consultation and conducts clinical research on vaccine-associated health risks.
If I Feel Good Can I Do The Usual
You wont need to skip work, a workout, or a social outing right after you get your shot because symptoms might occur. After you get the vaccine, you’re good to go and live life, says Dr. Lee. You can exercise and go about all your normal activities. So, if your response is mild and you feel well enough, youve got the green light to go about your day. According to the CDC, only one in six people had reactions that prevented them from doing their regularly scheduled activities.
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Shingles Stats: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention . Shingles .
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Shingles Vaccine Effectiveness:Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccines.
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Shingles Vaccine Side Effects:Pharmacy and Therapeutics. Shingrix: A New Herpes Zoster Vaccine.
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Pain Relievers and Vaccine Effectiveness:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. Effects of Antipyretic Analgesics on Immune Responses to Vaccination.
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Rare Reactions to Shingles Vaccine: CDC. Shingles Vaccination.
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Why Does Your Arm Hurt After A Shot
Aside from the tiny pinch you feel from the needle, its fairly normal to feel pain after an injection. Typically, no matter what vaccine youre getting, itll be administered in your upper arm or shoulder. So, thats where you should be prepared to feel some discomfort.
According to Dr. Allan, a couple of things happen during a shot that may cause pain. Once the needle is injected, it releases liquid into your system, which can cause some pain. After that, inflammation sets in after the shot, which leads to the pain or soreness you may experience.
The body starts to amount an immune response because theres something foreign in your body, explains Dr. Allan. So, the immune system recognizes that and creates an inflammatory response, to react to whatever was injected.Dr. Allan also points out that even if you dont feel much discomfort during the injection or shortly after, you may feel some pain later on. It can sometimes take hours to begin to really manifest, he says. Once the immune system becomes more active and starts creating an antibody response, youre going to get some sustained pain and inflammation.