re: Anyone get the shingles vax?

I got it several years ago. No side effects/ailments.

The side effects of the shot are far less than if you actually get it. For me the side effects were not bad. A sore arm and it felt like a minor case of the flu for an evening.

About 1/3 of people will get shingles in their life
About 1/10 of those will have a long term complication, most often pain that never goes completely away along the nerve.
The vaccine (shingrix) is pretty good. About a 90% reduction in cases in the group that got it, and much much lower risk of postherpetic neuralgia in those who got it than not


BUT


You will probably feel like shite for about 2d after you get the 2nd shot.





Unrelated musings:
When I started medical school, the common thought was, “If you see shingles in someone under 50, test for HIV (and think about other immunocompromised states).”
This has not really been the case for at least the last decade. I see it in 20-40 year olds fairly frequently (probably 6-8 cases a year in this crowd).

My suspicion is that with the invention of the Varicella vaccine that began being used in the early 90s, we have seen a dramatic decrease in circulating cases of the chicken pox virus, and subsequently, immunity wanes a bit quicker than previously thought without constant re-exposure. It wouldn’t surprise me if in a decade or two the recommendation is to get the zoster vaccine earlier or on a schedule similar to Tetanus (or maybe every 20 instead of 10. I don’t know. But my point is you will probably see this recommendation change in your life).



Overall, it’s one that I will get when I’m 50. Shingles itself sucks.

I had the shingles vax, two shot version, and had little reaction to it. An old friend got it and couldn't move his arm for three days.

My wife got the two shot vax, and no problems with it also.

I got the 2 shot vax when a year or so back. First shot, no big deal. 2nd shot, felt like the flu for about 12 hrs and the arm hurt for a while.

Just had my second shot last week. First shot knocked me down for couple of days like I had the flu. The second wasn’t as bad just felt tired and had little fever.

I’ve had shingles twice. Do I still need the vaccine? I’m a diabetic that can’t get 5,000 steps in each day.

I have had shingles twice, both mild.

The jab is two a few weeks apart. The first made me feel really rough so I let the second one go.

I am 55 and need to get the shingles vaccine. I had shingles when I was about 18 and it is extremely painful. Couldn’t even take a shower without losing my shite because of the pain.