Note: This post is primarily directed toward those who are over age 50.
I came across an article about the Shingrix vaccine for shingles while scanning news headlines last week. I’d never considered getting the shingles vaccine because I had chickenpox as a child and thought this made me immune to shingles. I also thought shingles was transmitted through the air from children and since I avoid kids like the plague (haha), my likelihood of being exposed to shingles was low.
I was wrong on both counts. After reading about shingles on the CDC website, I learned that since I had chickenpox as a child and was over 50, I have a 1 in 3 chance of getting shingles. I didn’t like those odds.
So I decided to get the vaccine. While on the CDC’s website, I wondered if if I needed any other vaccines. I found this tool https://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched/ and decided to get a TDAP vaccine too.
Before getting the vaccines, I searched the GenX subreddit to read about other people my age who had the shingles vaccine. I was specifically interested in the side effects and recovery time because a friend had told me the shingles vaccine side effects were “the worst” he’d ever had.
I received the TDAP and Shingrix vaccine last week at my local grocery store pharmacy. Within 6 hours, my Shingrix shoulder felt like I had received a wicked sucker punch. My TDAP shoulder felt like to I had received a Covid or Flu shot – sore, but not like the Shingrix shoulder. I had a mild headache. I took excedrin and iced both shoulders. The excedrin helped. The ice seemed to do nothing.
In the middle of the night about 12 hours after receiving my shots I woke up with both shoulders on fire and aching – especially the shingrix shoulder. I took an advil in the middle and applied ice again. The advil helped. The ice, once again, seemed pointless.
Over the next three days, my shoulder pain diminished notably each day.
However, during those 3 days, I had an elevated core temperature and mild muscle/joint achiness. I attempted my normal vigorous workouts and was able to complete them, but I had to go slower than usual, take longer rests and dial the intensity down a bit. I especially noticed while walking the dogs that I had to walk slowly and rest in the shade multiple times. It was sunny and in the 90s. My body just couldn’t handle the heat the way it normally does.
I had a mild to mid-level headache for 3 days and occasionally felt a little queasy. Excedrin helped keep this at a manageable level. I felt “off” but not terrible.
I guess this is what the CDC described as “mild flu-like symptoms”.
In 2 months, I’ll get my 2nd Shingrix vaccine (the TDAP is only a single shot). Other people reported various effects from the 2nd – everything from the same, to worse, to milder side effects.
My hope is my side effects are no worse than this first time around. With any luck they’ll be milder because I won’t be combining it with any other vaccines.
All in all, I am glad to have gotten both vaccines. Descriptions of shingles sound quite awful so hopefully these immunizations will keep me protected from experiencing them. As for TDAP, I was almost 40 years overdue for a booster. Better safe than sorry.
I will also be getting the Covid and Flu vaccinations sometime in the early fall once the 2024/2025 formulations are released.
I don’t enjoy getting vaccines, but I like the protection they’ve given me.
update after 2nd Shingrix shot 2 months later:
I had the same symptoms as the first time, perhaps slightly milder or for a briefer period of time. By the end of the second day I was feeling 90% recovered, other than an achy shoulder. I did notice some tingling in my fingers and some wrist pain, especially in my left arm where I had the shot. This was going by the end of the second day. It was all manageable with taking it easy plus some Tylenol and Advil. I’m glad this is over and it wasn’t worse.