JanMM

Tracked down available Shingrix at the retail pharmacy of the hospital I retired from 12/31/18 and got the vaccination today. That was second and final Shingrix. In addition to Zostavax in 2012. All done - unless a 100% effective, completely side effect free, and free version is created.
Got first Shingrix at local CVS, but they have not had supplies since I started checking about 3 months after first shot. Arm sore tonite, we'll see if that's the worst of it. Very common to react to Shingrix. But serious reactions are uncommon.

jimincalif

I’ve got about six weeks left to the six month anniversary of my first shot. Have not been able to find it anywhere.

rck

I'm scheduled to get the 1st next week and the 2nd in Oct., both at the VA. I know the local pharmacies are having a lot of problems with supply.

August West

I got the Zoster in 2015 & Shingrix last fall. Luckily, the local pharmacy put me on their list and I received my first shot within a couple of months and they made sure to fit me in for the second shot 2 months later.

Arm hurt pretty good after both shots with accompanying welt for a few days and I did develop a fever for a few hours the evening after the second shot but it went away pretty quickly. But well worth it if it keeps me from getting shingles.

My mother developed shingles all across her abdomen when she was in her 80's and was one of the unfortunate 10% to develop postherpetic neuralgia. It never went away and she spent the last few years of her life in excruciating pain. Every time her clothing would touch her abdomen she it felt like being jabbed with 1000 needles. No thanks. Not the way I want to spend my retirement. So got the zoster the day I turned 60 and the Shingrix as soon as I could find it. Hopefully it works.

JanMM

2+ days after second Shingrix shot and all I have to complain about is localized arm soreness. So, I guess I won’t complain.

79pmooney

I've said this before and I'll say it again - if you do not get the vaccine (and maybe even if you do) and ever see an odd band of red spots; following a rib is common, across your face less so but they can happen in other places too - go to a doctor, mention shingles and do not leave his'her office without a prescription for the medication unless he/she definitely established a different cause. There is a roughly 72 hour window between first symptoms and the road to hell. Take that medication inside the window and shingles is a PITA for weeks. Don't and hell goes on for months.

I lucked out. Saw the spots getting into riding clothes in the men's room for the commute home. Had no idea what they were but thought I'd ask the nurse at Medical on the way out. Took her maybe 30 seconds to say "Shingles. Go to your doctor by tomorrow and get the medication. You aren't leaving here until you make that appointment." The next day my doc diagnosed me just as fast, gave me the prescription and said "I don't care what your plans are (it was Friday evening). You are going straight to the pharmacy, filling this prescription and taking the first one before you leave."

Ben

sch

Very minor local arm pain for me with both zostavax and more recently shingrix. Local Sams had a list for shingrix and this resulted in about
2 month wait for the shots, now 5months later complete. FWIW wife on Advantage: $45 copay, I am on supplemental BlueCross medicare and
copay was $160. Both prices are a bargain compared to shingles itself as per 79pmooneys story.

shelbyfv

I got on the list at our Walmart and it was about 6 months before the first shot was available. Fortunately, they maintain the list and I was able to get the second shot as soon as the 2 months was up. Just a sore arm with the first. The second hit me hard. Body aches, headache, chills, felt as if I had the flu. It all came on several hours after the shot and lasted another day and a half. My wife got the shot same day and thankfully had nothing but another sore arm. Now it's time for flu shots....

JanMM

Don't forget there is an extra-strength flu vaccine for those of us 65+. Haven't tried it yet because wasn't offered to employees by hospital system I worked for prior to retirement. Will look for it this September.

SpinClassSara

Good job! I'm also post both Shingrex vaccines and I got my flu shot last week.

It's a good feeling!

philbob57

I'm sitting at home during wonderful riding weather because of side effects of the 1st Shingrix shot 2 days ago, feeling sorry for myself. You've reminded me that it's better than getting shingles, so my hopes are high. It took some months to find the 1st shot. My wife did the research and got us on the list at a specific local Walgreen's that has a contract with BCBS, for which I am grateful. My local CVS has plenty of the 2nd shot, but none of the 1st.

avmech

Second Shingrix about a week ago. Not as sore as after the first one. All good

horatio 

Got my shots last year. I was sick as a dog after the first one (flu-like symptoms), but not after the second.

freeranger

My wife and I only had minor soreness and a small welt after the first one-got over it in a week or two. About due for the second one-hoping our pharm. has it in stock-they said they would hold one for her, I didn't ask to have one held (maybe should have). I've met people who have had shingles (all had gotten over it, though some had a tough time with it. Sure isn't something I want to experience!

02Giant 

Seen my PCP this week for my biannual blood work and physical. I asked about the Shingles vaccination, she is going to hook me up when I return in 6 months. She warned that 20% have a reaction to the vaccination.

jimincalif

I got my second dose today - 3 days short of the six month window from the last one, from my doctor's office. They are not managing this very well, my wife goes to another doctor in the same organization. They both have "lists" for the shot - organized by doctor. So we had our names on the respective lists, last week she got a call from her Dr that they had a new supply come in, but I never got a call from my Dr. So I called and got in.

The irony is my wife is out of town and won't be home for a week. They will probably be out by the time she returns even though she's made an appointment. This happened to us before when we made appointments for the first go around.

Carbonfiberboy 

I got my second dose 2 days ago. I've been a complete mess. I didn't check to see if I had a fever but it felt like I had the flu - no energy, ringing ears, dizzy. Felt like I had really low blood sugar. Feel better to day, but still have a big red blotch on my arm right below the injection site.

jimincalif

I got the shot on a Monday, I already had a slight cold/sniffles. Tuesday and Weds afternoons/evenings I felt a bit off, clammy skin, slight fever sort of thing. Was fine by Thursday. Not sure how much of this was the cold vs the shot. Arm was pretty sore first couple of days.

SpinClassSara

Just think how bad getting Shingles would be!!!!

JanMM

....and potentially more expensive than Shingrix injections!

JohnDThompson 

During my career as an RN, I cared for many shingles patients. It can be thoroughly miserable, sometimes requiring hospitalization and intravenous pain killers. And it can leave you with permanent nerve damage, chronic neuralgias, or even deafness or blindness if the optic or auditory nerves are involved.

No, thanks. Just get the vaccine.

MoAlpha

How about strokes and, possibly, death from varicella vasculopathy? Double no thanks!

Shimagnolo

I've had both Shingrix vaccinations, and had no effects at all.

Now the Pneumococcal Vaccination I had a year ago was another matter.
That damned shot left my left arm sore for 2 weeks.
I think they hit a nerve or something.

zjrog

After a bout of shingles over the summer, got my first shot of Shingrex 3 weeks ago. Made my arm sore for a few days, pushups helped a little.. About 4 weeks from geting my second shot. Looking nforward to it. It looks like I'll have some permanent scarring from the shingles in my pubi and butt areas. But so very glad it is all over... THe day I got the Shigrex, I also got a flu shot in the other arm, and my biweekly Testosterone shot in my hip. Felt like a Freaking pin cushion!!!!

rck

I just had my 2nd shot yesterday. A bit sore and crunchy today but I can't ascribe all of that to the vaccine. Like Shimagnlo the worse shot for me was the Prevnair 13. So I've now had the shingles, flu and pneumonia vaccines in the last 3 mos. that's enough of being a pincushion for this year!