Why do you feel bad after shingles vaccine?
Asked by: Clint O'Reilly | Last update: November 3, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (6 votes)
Why do I feel so bad after Shingrix?
A: Shingrix works by strengthening the immune system's defenses against reactivation of the virus. In some people, this process may cause mild soreness, redness, swelling, or pain in the arm at the injection site. These symptoms last for two or three days.
Is the second shingles shot worse than the first?
The second dose of Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) may cause side effects that are worse than the first. 1 The second dose is given between 2 and 6 months after the first. Don't skip the second shot, even if you are concerned about side effects.
Should you rest after the shingles vaccine?
Plan to take it easy after your shingles vaccine. Get plenty of rest, and you should notice your energy levels start to improve within a few days.
How long after shingles vaccine do you feel ill?
Side effects can last two or three days, and the injection site in the upper arm can hurt.
What are the side effects of the shingles shot?
What percentage of people feel sick after shingles vaccine?
About 1 out of 10 reported grade 3 systemic reactions such as myalgia (muscle pain), fatigue (feeling tired), headache, shivering, fever, and gastrointestinal illness. Most people (78%) who got Shingrix reported at least some pain at the injection site.
What is considered a bad reaction to the shingles vaccine?
Severe allergic reactions are less common and include:
Hives. Swelling of the face/throat. Difficulty breathing. A fast heartbeat.
Is it normal to be extremely tired after getting the shingles shot?
Side effects of the shingles vaccine
swelling, itchiness, bruising or pain where the injection was given. a headache. an aching body. feeling tired.
Why do some doctors not recommend the shingles vaccine?
But safety in pregnant women has not been proven yet, and so it is not recommended during pregnancy. Severe reaction to an earlier dose. If you had a severe allergic reaction after the first dose of RZV, you shouldn't have the second dose. Be careful also if you have had allergic reactions to other vaccines.
What medications should I avoid after the shingles vaccine?
- acetaminophen.
- anakinra.
- azathioprine.
- baricitinib.
- cancer medications (e.g., carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, venetoclax, vincristine)
What is the controversy with Shingrix?
A warning about GBS was already included in the Shingrix PI. This described the findings of an observational study in individuals aged 65 years or older which showed an increased risk of GBS (estimated 3 excess cases per million doses administered) observed during the 6 weeks following vaccination.
What happens if you miss the second Shingrix shot?
If you skip your second shot, you may not get the vaccine's full benefits. It's important to get both Shingrix doses within the recommended time frame. But if more than 6 months have passed since your first Shingrix dose, you won't need to restart the vaccine series.
How common is Guillain-Barré after the Shingrix vaccine?
A self-controlled case series found an increased risk of GBS during a 42-day period after vaccination with Shingrix [11]. The study also found an estimated three cases of GBS per million vaccinations administered in adults aged 65 and older [11].
Why does my shingles shot hurt so much?
When a person receives a shot, a small amount of liquid is injected into the muscle, which basically stretches the muscle fibers, causing some inflammation. This causes pain and discomfort to the injected arm. “It is normal for some vaccine shots to cause more pain than others such as the COVID-19 vaccine and shingles.
Is the shingles vaccine once in a lifetime?
Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years. While the vaccine was most effective in people 60 through 69 years old, it also provides some protection for people 70 years old and older.
Why was the shingles vaccine taken off the market?
Merck & Co.'s Zostavax was discontinued in 2020 because of waning effectiveness over time. Curevo hopes to change that and go head-to-head with GSK's Shingrix — which notched $4.3 billion sales last year — with a vaccine that's as effective but has a lower rate of side effects.
What triggers shingles to flare up?
After having chickenpox, the virus stays in the nerve cells of your body but is not active. Shingles occurs when the virus becomes active again usually many years later. The virus may be reactivated by stress, illness, immunosuppression, older age, trauma and radiotherapy. But shingles often occurs for no known reason.
Is there a downside to the shingles vaccine?
The most common side effects of a shingles vaccine are headaches and pain, soreness, swelling and itching where the shot was given. On white skin, the area might look red. On Black or brown skin the redness might be harder to see.
What helps feel better after shingles vaccine?
Taking an over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen after getting Shingrix can help ease discomfort from side effects. Contact your doctor if you have serious side effects.
What percentage of people get sick from the shingles vaccine?
However, in a CDC analysis of clinical trial data, Dr. Kathleen Dooling of the Division of Viral Diseases stated that about 1 in 6 patients receiving Shingrix reported reactions severe enough to prevent normal activities while three out of four patients experienced at least some pain.
Why was Shingrix recalled?
The recall is a precautionary measure due to the potential for loss of integrity of the antigen vial, although a search of GSK's global adverse event database has not identified a safety signal for Shingrix lot #9LH3Y related to infections or lack of efficacy, events that could occur if there were a loss of integrity ...
Why is the shingles vaccine not given over 80?
The vaccine's effect diminishes with age, therefore people aged 80 or older aren't eligible to receive the vaccine.