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oregonjen

(3,563 posts) Tue May 20, 2025, 11:31 AM May 20

Got my 2nd dose of the shingles vaccine

February of 2020, I got my first dose, then lockdown. I was one of those people who didn’t get the second dose. Yeah, I know, not a smart decision. Yesterday, I FINALLY went in to get it done and was told I don’t have to start all over again. What a relief! I’m sitting on the sofa with a fever, body aches and a headache, but it’s better than getting shingles.

20 replies

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Got my 2nd dose of the shingles vaccine (Original Post) oregonjen May 20 OP

I also had a sore response to that vaccine. viva la May 20 #1

According to the pharmacist, I don't have to start over. oregonjen May 20 #3

That's a rough one. But just think: soon this will pass, and then you'll never get shingles! Scrivener7 May 20 #2

Thank you! oregonjen May 20 #4

I got both doses of this vaccine earlier this year LetMyPeopleVote May 20 #5

Excellent!! oregonjen May 20 #7

I haven't been in for my second yet - got the first about a year ago jmbar2 May 20 #6

I got my first and then forgot about for a year, Drum May 20 #8

Indeed. Get that second dose! oregonjen May 20 #9

I just learned today Mosby May 20 #10

Oh wow, didn't know that. oregonjen May 20 #11

The chicken pox vaccine is a live virus. Mosby May 20 #14

I got my shingles shots a few years ago. MIButterfly May 20 #12

Thank you! oregonjen May 20 #13

It's my understanding (and It's just what I've heard) that MIButterfly May 20 #15

Got mine about a year ago. bif May 20 #16

Feel better soon, oregonjen Niagara May 20 #17

Yes, I get fever, chills, body aches and a huge headache after Covid shots, too oregonjen May 20 #19

Everyone's different and has a different reaction Niagara May 20 #20

After each shot, I was sick for exactly 24 hours nuxvomica May 20 #18

viva la

(4,169 posts)

1. I also had a sore response to that vaccine.

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:34 AM

May 20

I hope you feel better soon! At least it's not as bad as the ailment itself.

I'm surprised that you didn't have to re-do the first dose. That must have been giving you at least some protection all along.

oregonjen

(3,563 posts)

3. According to the pharmacist, I don't have to start over.

Reply to viva la (Reply #1)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:39 AM

May 20

Reading online, studies showed one doesn’t need to start over, which matches what the pharmacist said.
You’re right, the side effects are better than actually getting it.

Scrivener7

(56,361 posts)

2. That's a rough one. But just think: soon this will pass, and then you'll never get shingles!

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:37 AM

May 20

Congratulations. Feel better soon.

oregonjen

(3,563 posts)

4. Thank you!

Reply to Scrivener7 (Reply #2)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:40 AM

May 20

LetMyPeopleVote

(166,210 posts)

5. I got both doses of this vaccine earlier this year

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:45 AM

May 20

oregonjen

(3,563 posts)

7. Excellent!!

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #5)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:52 AM

May 20

jmbar2

(7,045 posts)

6. I haven't been in for my second yet - got the first about a year ago

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:48 AM

May 20

You inspire me to get it done before my favorite Rite Aid/pharmacist goes away. Thanks.

I do remember it being the worst of all the vaccines for soreness afterwards. But worth the short-term discomfort compared to shingles.

Drum

(10,366 posts)

8. I got my first and then forgot about for a year,

Reply to jmbar2 (Reply #6)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:53 AM

May 20

and then got my second a few months ago. I’m glad I did, and you will be too.

oregonjen

(3,563 posts)

9. Indeed. Get that second dose!

Reply to jmbar2 (Reply #6)

Tue May 20, 2025, 11:53 AM

May 20

Mosby

(18,793 posts)

10. I just learned today

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 12:01 PM

May 20

That if you never had chicken pox, but recieved the varicella vaccine, you can get shingles.

oregonjen

(3,563 posts)

11. Oh wow, didn't know that.

Reply to Mosby (Reply #10)

Tue May 20, 2025, 12:03 PM

May 20

Will need to advise my kids to get vaccinated when it’s recommended.

Mosby

(18,793 posts)

14. The chicken pox vaccine is a live virus.

Reply to oregonjen (Reply #11)

Tue May 20, 2025, 01:46 PM

May 20

We just told you that you get shingles when the virus that causes chicken pox reactivates inside your body, so it would seem to follow that if you've never had chicken pox, you can't get shingles. But there's a catch: If you've had the chicken pox vaccine, you've been exposed to the virus that causes both chicken pox and shingles. "The varicella vaccine is a live, attenuated virus, so if you've gotten it, you have the virus in your body, same as if you'd had chicken pox," says Lorraine. Translation: You may be immune to chicken pox, but you're theoretically still at risk for shingles. No one really knows what the odds of shingles are in this case, since the varicella vaccine is only 20 years old, says Lorraine. Time will tell.

https://www.prevention.com/health/a20499391/6-myths-about-shingles-you-still-believe/

MIButterfly

(815 posts)

12. I got my shingles shots a few years ago.

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 12:04 PM

May 20

I got the second one with another shot and it hurt like hell. That was the only shot out of all of them (COVID; flu; shingles; and pneumococcal pneumonia) that hurt the second they did it and for about four days afterward. I figure it was a small price to pay. I did get side effects with the COVID shots, but they were relatively minor and lasted less than a day.

Hope you get over your side effects soon!

oregonjen

(3,563 posts)

13. Thank you!

Reply to MIButterfly (Reply #12)

Tue May 20, 2025, 12:06 PM

May 20

MIButterfly

(815 posts)

15. It's my understanding (and It's just what I've heard) that

Reply to oregonjen (Reply #13)

Tue May 20, 2025, 04:26 PM

May 20

side effects are proof that the vaccine is working, so I guess that's the good part of them.

bif

(25,882 posts)

16. Got mine about a year ago.

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 04:38 PM

May 20

The second one was pretty rough. Had the chills for about 24 hours--I just could not get warm. Then I was fine.

Niagara

(10,804 posts)

17. Feel better soon, oregonjen

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 05:33 PM

May 20

🌞🌼🧸

Do you get this reaction when you receive your Covid vaccine as well?

I'm asking because next year I'll be receiving my first shingles vaccine but I only get a sore and tender arm with the Covid vaccine.

I don't really know how I'll react to the shingles vaccine.

oregonjen

(3,563 posts)

19. Yes, I get fever, chills, body aches and a huge headache after Covid shots, too

Reply to Niagara (Reply #17)

Tue May 20, 2025, 07:08 PM

May 20

I guess that’s just the way my immune system works.

Niagara

(10,804 posts)

20. Everyone's different and has a different reaction

Reply to oregonjen (Reply #19)

Tue May 20, 2025, 07:43 PM

May 20

And that's okay.

Be well and stay hydrated, oregonjen.

nuxvomica

(13,461 posts)

18. After each shot, I was sick for exactly 24 hours

Reply to oregonjen (Original post)

Tue May 20, 2025, 06:03 PM

May 20

Then suddenly, I felt fine. For the second one I timed it. Got the shot at 2pm on a Friday, was iffy until bedtime, woke up in the morning feeling like I had the flu, but by a little after 2 pm, all the symptoms disappeared at once. Definitely worth it.

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