Doc is recommending I get the shot. Says I will probably be flu like sick for a day or two. Anyone else have good/bad experiences. I assume the shot is safe long term,etc? TIA!

Im in!

fc2112 said:

---

Yeah, you'll feel icky for a day or two.

Or you could get shingles and be laid up for a month, praying for God to let you die.

You decide which is preferable.

---

I had a very mild case, and I was absolutely miserable for weeks. I can't even begin to imagine how horrible it is for people that get it bad.

YokelRidesAgain said:

---

There has been some fascinating data recently showing a reduction in the risk of dementia from multiple countries with socialized healthcare systems showing a decline in dementia risk that is phase locked to when their systems made shingles vaccines available. Reduction in risk is small on an individual level, but compelling nonetheless. Get the shot.

---

Thanks for the info. I did a quick search and saw multiple reports about the shingles vaccine in Wales. When introduced, they had apparently cut off the eligibility for the vaccine at 80 -- those 80 or older could not get the vaccine. Those who were 79 or younger on the date of the cutoff appeared to have had something like a 20% reduction in the rates of dementia.

Thanks.

I've asked for the vaccination before, but the local doctors never seem to have it on hand. If I'm at the doctor's office for something like a routine blood test or something else where I'm not sick, I'll often ask if they have any vaccinations available that I might need.

From https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/shingles-vaccine-may-protect-against-dementia

Quote:

---

Researchers examined health records from more than 280,000 older adults in Wales, which began offering shingles vaccinations with an age limit. People who were 80 or older on Sept. 1, 2013, were ineligible for the first-generation shingles vaccine, called Zostavax, while those who were 79 years old on that date could be vaccinated over the following year or so - and 47% chose to do so. Seven years later, participants who'd received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to have developed dementia than those who weren't vaccinated - and the protective effect was markedly higher among women.

---

And it appears to reduce the mortality rates for those already have dementia.

From https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/03/shingles-vaccination-dementia.html

Quote:

---

In a follow-up study published Dec. 2 in Cell, the researchers found that the vaccine may also benefit those already diagnosed with dementia by slowing the progress of the disease.

...

When the researchers analyzed the health records further, taking advantage of the same natural experiment, they discovered that the vaccine's benefits extended from the earliest signs of cognitive decline to the latest stages of dementia.

Many cases of dementia are preceded by a period of mild cognitive impairment characterized by deficits in memory and cognitive skills that do not interfere with independent living, Geldsetzer said.

They found that people who received the vaccine were less likely to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment during a nine-year follow-up than those who were unvaccinated.

Even more dramatic, people who received the vaccine after a dementia diagnosis were significantly less likely to die from dementia in the next nine years (as indicated on their death certificates), suggesting that the vaccine could slow the progress of the disease.

---

That is great information.

AggieOO said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

Yeah, you'll feel icky for a day or two.

Or you could get shingles and be laid up for a month, praying for God to let you die.

You decide which is preferable.

---

I had a very mild case, and I was absolutely miserable for weeks. I can't even begin to imagine how horrible it is for people that get it bad.

---

I had a very bad case in my face for 13 weeks. Bells Palsy, stabbing pain in my ear. Pin sticking sensation on half my head. 24x7 for 13 weeks.

I'd get the Shingles vaccine daily, if it were a daily vaccine.

Both shots made me feel like I had the flu. Symptoms started almost exactly 24 hours after the shot and lasted the better part of the day. Still better than the shingles.

Wow, 13 weeks is terrible.

One of my bosses way up the food chain was out for over a month and he was the one telling me he honestly was praying to please die. Told me if I didn't get it he'd kick my ass.

I got it the next week.

Is there any value in getting the vaccine if you've already had shingles? I had a very mild case in 2019 on my chest. It was 1 or 2 little pustules/sores. Started as a tingling sensation around my nipple, then progressed to a type of soreness that I attributed to lifting weights. The soreness/pain in the pec area got to about a 5 over the course of a few days and then just faded away after about a week.

Aggie Pharmer said:

---

Is there any value in getting the vaccine if you've already had shingles? I had a very mild case in 2019 on my chest. It was 1 or 2 little pustules/sores. Started as a tingling sensation around my nipple, then progressed to a type of soreness that I attributed to lifting weights. The soreness/pain in the pec area got to about a 5 over the course of a few days and then just faded away after about a week.

---

I have had shingles and spent years fighting it off with meds when the old vaccine was not effective for me.

Shingrex is much better and I didn't have any reaction to either shot. My hubby felt bad for a day or 2 so get your vaccine on a Friday.

Aggie Pharmer said:

---

Is there any value in getting the vaccine if you've already had shingles? I had a very mild case in 2019 on my chest. It was 1 or 2 little pustules/sores. Started as a tingling sensation around my nipple, then progressed to a type of soreness that I attributed to lifting weights. The soreness/pain in the pec area got to about a 5 over the course of a few days and then just faded away after about a week.

---

i was told i could still get it again even though I've already had it. I'll get the vaccine as soon as I'm eligible. don't want to go through that again.

Quote:

---

i was told i could still get it again even though I've already had it. I'll get the vaccine as soon as I'm eligible. don't want to go through that again.

---

Correct.

I had the old Shingles vaccine twice 10 years apart; it didn't work for me.

Years later I received the 2 Shingrex vaccines several months apart.

I had an appointment to get the shingles vaccine today (Friday), but had to cancel. I'm not going to get it until after AT&T repairs our fiber circuit.

Get the shot. +1

It wasn't flu like for me but I noticed it.

I got my first shot of shingles vaccine today.

One thing that surprised me was that I had to go to the pharmacy, pick up the vaccine, and take it back to the doctor's office to be vaccinated.

I stopped at the grocery store afterwards and got a couple cans of soup in case that the vaccine leaves me feeling like I have the flu.

I get most all of mine, including shingles at Tom Thumb grocery. Easy one stop and they give a coupon for the stuff you buy that day.

Is that not commonly available?

Why does insurance only cover the vaccine at age 50?

double aught said:

---

Why does insurance only cover the vaccine at age 50?

---

Because the studies were done in people 50 and older, and insurance companies love them some excuses not to pay for things.

I had shingles twice before my 40th birthday, kind of irritates me as well.

I forgot to ask the doctor if I should get a RSV vaccination, too. I think they recommend them for everyone over 75 and for anyone younger who are likely to have a more serious case if they get RSV.

And my 10 year tetanus shot anniversary is next May so I need to look at a booster about that time.

Just a different opinion... I had shingles. I'd take shingles over taking the vaccine any day of the week.

Hoosegow said:

---

Just a different opinion... I had shingles. I'd take shingles over taking the vaccine any day of the week.

---

Why??

double aught said:

---

Why does insurance only cover the vaccine at age 50?

---

Your Dr can write a letter of necessity for you to get it approved before age 50. I received my first in my 30's and insurance covered it.

My experience - it just wasn't that bad and quite frankly I don't have any trust in the business of medicine. Just not worth the risk. I'm not saying my decision is right for anyone else. It is the right one for me.

Now... if my experience was close to what some of the others have noted, I might have another opinion.

Blindness is what scares me and shingles can deliver on that.

I mean, it's a vaccine for a disease you have already had. I don't get the fear of the vaccine lol

Speaking of blindness...
Years ago when my son was 16-17, he suddenly had a red rash/blister that popped up just below his cheekbone. We thought it got an insect bite and we just blew it off. The next morning it was very painful so we took him to Dr and he immediately diagnosed SHINGLES!!! and said he was very lucky we brought him in quickly otherwise it very easily could have travelled into his eye and blinded him. Ended up with a nice permanent scar there (more like a crater!) but he thought it was "cool" scar haha. It's been covered up with a beard ever since!

After that experience, a buddy of mine got shingles pretty bad across his side, up his rib cage and he couldn't move without being in total pain for a couple of weeks! I realized then that I am NOT messing around with shingles and would get the Shingrix vax as soon as i turned 50. Unfortunately, I've put it off for a decade so this thread has me back on track!