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Shingles and Flu Shot

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Goodwater_Betty
Goodwater_Betty

Last year I developed a case of shingles shortly after getting my flu shot.  I read on this forum where somebody felt that their shingles might have been related to getting the flu shot.  I have not gotten a flu shot this fall and don’t know if there is a connection between the two or not.  I’m 74 and hate to skip getting the shot but I don’t want to risk a shingles relapse either.  I also wondered if I should get the new shingles shot, which I heard was more effective than the one I got several years ago.  Can anyone else weigh in on either of these issues?

8 likes, 114 replies

114 Replies

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  • michaela90983
    michaela90983 Goodwater_Betty

    Edited

    I searched google for Shingles and Flu shot and found this discussion. I also was diagnosed with Shingles a few days after the flu shot this year.  I had the flu shot November 14, 2017, began noticing the shingles rash on my face on November 16, and my doctor confirmed it was shingles on November 20.  I am age 42 and I have had the flu shot consistently for the last 5 years, but this is the first time I've had shingles. My doctor believes that the flu shot could have compromised my immunity and allowed the shingles virus to activate.  I'm curious about different flu strains in the flu shot each year, and how perhaps new ones can now be connected to causing shingles?

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 michaela90983

      Posted

      Hi Michaela,

      This discussion comes up during the influenza vaccine season.

      Scientific studies have shown that getting the flu shot does not trigger Shingles.

      There is going to be a certain percentage of individuals who happen get Shingles around the same time, but remember, the varicella virus was probably activated 2 weeks before you even had the flu shot (the pre-eruptive phase. )

      I am not trying to marginalize anyone who is concerned about this phenomenon, by any means. One has to weigh the risks of the flu vs the risk of a not so effective flu vaccine, that does weaken the influenza strain individuals do get.

      I choose to get the flu vaccine, and have had the Pneumovax and Prevnar vaccines.

      Sadly, I know of two young family friends who died of pneumonia within 60 hours of onset of getting the flu. They were a sweet 7 year old girl and sweet 32 year old mother of two.

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • Guest
      Guest Merry19451

      Edited

      Sorry, not buying the "coincidence" explanation. Clearly there IS a connection between getting a flu shot and developing shingles. No one is saying the flu vaccine itself directly gives you shingles. We're saying that it causes your immune system to weaken as antibodies are focused on protecting your body from the flu virus (even though it is inactivated!) and thus it provides an opening for the dormant herpes zoster virus to awaken and thus cause a shingles outbreak. THAT is the connection between the flu shot and an outbreak of shingles and there is NO medical evidence to the contrary. In fact, it has been proven that a weakened immune system definitely DOES increase your odds of getting shingles. And the introduction of the flu virus (even though it is no longer alive!) via a flu shot DEFINITELY temporarily weakens your immune system against fighting off other viruses -- such as the dormant herpes zoster virus. So there IS a connection between getting a flu shot and then developing shingles soon after. It is NOT simply "coincidence". Having said that, it is still important to get a flu shot because the flu can be deadly. What we need to do is figure out how to bolster our immune system while it's busy building defenses against an invasion of a live flu virus in the future. That will decrease the odds of a dormant herpes zoster virus from producing an outbreak of shingles until our immune system is back to full strength.

    • michelle56454
      michelle56454 Merry19451

      Edited

      Agree, the flu can be a very risky business and even if I knew that I was going to get shingles after it, i would still have the shot. You cannot overlook the fact that so many of us have had this happen or have this in common. Research includes gathering this type of evidence otherwise why have they even studied that it doesnt trigger shingles....must have been other incidences. it is very interesting and really surprised me. I am a certified immunization nurse myself !

    • sandy00456
      sandy00456 Guest

      Edited

      Me either. 3 years ago I had my first ever flu shot and ended up with my first ever case of shingles about 72 hours after.Up until my flu shot I hadn't gotten the flu in over 25 years. I know this because the last time I had the flu was before I was pregnant with my first child. Once I became pregnant, and on through the years after, I was obsessive about hand washing, wiping down surfaces with bleach wipes, etc. Never got the flu (still haven't, knock on wood). Given the fact that I hadn't gotten the flu for so many years, I don't know why I decided that year to get a flu shot. Probably because it was being hyped so much. Well, never again.There is NO WAY that the flu shot didn't compromise my immune system just enough to allow the shingles virus to appear.

    • maddie37471
      maddie37471 Guest

      Edited

      At least someone that talks sense. I totally agree that the flu jab adds strain to your immune system.

      I think all this shingles issue after the flu jab started when they produced different vaccine for under and over 65 year olds. For some people under 65 with weaker immune system a quadrivalent flu vaccine is a bit too much to deal with. I believe the trivalent one given to people over 65 is much better supported by the body.

      I have asked the GP for a trivalent vaccine but I was refused and when I told him that I had shingles after 7-8 days since the vaccination, he told me he never heard about something like this!!

  • lynn74291
    lynn74291 Goodwater_Betty

    Edited

    Hi - i got shingles one day after flu vax. I am immunocompromised so maybe this makes sense. for those of you who are healthy, there must be a link...

     

  • ally06134
    ally06134 Goodwater_Betty

    Edited

    I too had this same issue. I’m 27 years old and I have the flu shot every year. I’m normally very healthy and rarely get sick or have any health issues. This year almost a week after getting my flu shot I developed a horrible case of shingles. Doctor told me the shot could have compromised my immune system leaving me susceptible.  One of the most horrible experiences I’ve been through health wise and for this reason I will most likely never get another flu shot. I don’t think it can be a coincidence. Every year flu shots changes because of different flu strains. How is it possible to fully analyze how people’s bodies will react to all the different shots created. I would have rather had the flu 
  • nancy2018
    nancy2018 Goodwater_Betty

    Edited

    Did a search for Flu shot & Shingles and happened across this discussion. I also HAD to get a flu shot or be fired from the health system I work for. About a week later my case of shingles began at my rib cage right side, and a few days later had worked it's way across my side and midway across my back. The worst agony I have ever experienced in my life. It's now 2 months later and I can still see the remnants of the spots. Coincidence? No way to tell, but I will never get a flu shot again.

  • j10762
    j10762 Goodwater_Betty

    Edited

    I also developed shingles right after getting the flu shot as a 27-year-old. I may have had lower immunity at that time, for a variety of reasons, but the timing was so exact I feel confident they were related. 
    • Saisantoshd
      Saisantoshd j10762

      Edited

      30 years old, got shingles 2 days after taking the flu shot.
  • Guest
    Guest Goodwater_Betty

    Edited

    I absolutely believe there IS a connection between the flu vaccine and shingles! The same thing that so many people reported here and many other places on the internet happened to me. Within two weeks of getting a flu shot in Dec 2017, I developed shingles. Though my physical outbreak was mild, the pain was severe and left me with PHN. I understand that the two viruses (influenza and herpes zoster) are separate but I have NO doubt that there is some kind of connection between getting a flu vaccination and an increased risk of developing shingles as a result. The CDC and other health agencies need to stop brushing this issue aside as mere coincidence! It happens too often to be ignored. I bet the frequency is MUCH higher than reported because most people simply don't connect the two elements and/or have their complaints & questions dismissed by doctors as "coincidence". This issue needs to be fully investigated because shingles can be so excruciatingly painful that the thought of getting it again will keep many people from getting the flu vaccine again. And as we all know, the flu is responsible for many deaths. So please keep reporting your experience of getting a flu shot then developing shingles very shortly afterwards (within two weeks or so). Let's find out what the connection is and find a way to stop it or at least lessen the chances of developing shingles as a result of getting a flu shot! Stop listening to those who say there's no way the two are connected because the viruses are separate or simply because it doesn't always happen!

  • kathryn32101
    kathryn32101 Goodwater_Betty

    Edited

    Having just felt that at last I am back to normal from shingles, I was dismayed today to find an itchy blistering pimple in the exact spot the shingles started, that looked exactly like a shingles blister. I had a flu jab first thing this morning. I rushed to the GP. As I plan to go to Spain tomorrow, shingles is the last thing I want right now. He said it's just a pimple but I said well, what if I find a shingles rash tomorrow? He said to come down to the surgery again if I do, but I don't have time for that. I persuaded him to give me a prescription for anti-virals just in case. I can't quite decide if I should cash it in and take the medication to Spain or what? I feel I should not delay but don't want to jump the gun if it is just a pimple. I don't have any pain, which I got first the last time, so hopefully it's nothing, but I did feel tired out just before the "pimple" appeared. I will anxiously have a good look in the morning. Can a flu jab be a spark for shingles? I was told over-65s like me get a stronger dose of flu jab.

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 kathryn32101

      Posted

      Kathryn,

      I would get the Antivirals and take them with me. Travel is a huge stressor, and you should always have a supply with you, anyway, plus the analgesics.

      There is a connection between the influenza vaccine and getting Shingles, but has not been published in scientific journals.

      The CDC has become very political and I do not always trust their findings, especially from another organization, Infectious Disease Society of America.

      That being said I do get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia with Pneumovax and Prevnar.

      I have become too ill with influenza not to get the vaccine, and have attended two funerals of a 32 year old lady and 7 year old girl (family friends) who each died of staph pneumonia 3 days after contracting the flu. They were not vaccinated.

      Do have fun in your trip!

      Bon Voyage!

      Merry Juliana

    • kathryn32101
      kathryn32101 Merry19451

      Posted

      Thanks so much for your help and the compassion that I see with which you spend time helping so many. A thought occurs to me. This does seem to be some kind of revival of the shingles, so far very mild. The one blister itches and there is mild pain where I used to get it worse. If I wake in the morning and it is no worse, but stays like that, I am not sure if it would be a good or bad idea to take anti-viral meds. Of course, if I wake with worse symptoms it will be obvious. When I go away there will be no Dr I could really ask. Really not sure, as when I start taking it, I must complete the course.

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 kathryn32101

      Posted

      Kathryn,

      When you stated in your earlier post it itched, it sounded much more like Shingles to me. I don't think your Physician was listening to your history.

      As there is a revival or recurrent Shingles vesicle-blister at the same location as the first episode, and it hurts and itches, it is Shingles. You can wait til tomorrow morning, but definitely take the Antivirals. If it waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is indeed.... Shingles!

      You will abort the worst of the shingles, by starting the Antivirals early. I speak from experience. Also, this is no time to scrimp on expense when traveling. Make sure to go easy on yourself....Hire a porter, if necessary.

      Have a fantastic time!

      Merry Juliana

    • davideastchurch
      davideastchurch Merry19451

      Posted

      I have recurring shingles. The recurrences are always mild but I always have antivirals to hand so that I can start them as soon as the symptoms appear - usually a slight rash - and I always have antivirals with me when I travel.

      My rash usually itches like crazy and I feel 'shingly' - I get a fizzy sensation that makes me feel very edgy. It's quite unmistakable. If you've had shingles before, you'll know your own symptoms: trust them and take the antivirals.

      I'm just 12 days into the latest outbreak and I'm so glad that I had the antivirals to hand.

      David

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 davideastchurch

      Posted

      Dear David,

      My recurrent Shingles now has extended to include my right scalp.

      I have found that a steroid nasal spray for allergies, Flonase, followed by Bactine spray, which contains 2.5% Lidocaine, has helped enormously for the severe itching fizzy feeling. I need a liquid formation due to my hair.

      As the episodes of shingles were intensifying, I decided to get the Shingrex. One injection seems to have slowed the intensity and recurrent episodes way down to one mild case, even before the antibodies have even maximized.

      I hope you and your family are doing well, as we all prepare for the holidays and winter.

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

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