I agree—worthwhile calling around (vs randomly driving and hoping). If you find a place that has it, ask them to reserve your dose and promise to be there that day and follow through.
I’m sorry for those who had bad reactions, including H, but he’s so glad it should protect him from shingles again, as shingles was much, much worse for him and D!
I’m doing fine, having had both the 1st Shingrex shot (left arm) and flu shot (right arm) yesterday.
I tolerate flu shots very well and this year was no exception.
As for Shingrex, yesterday evening my arm was a bit sore, but it wasn’t bad-- ibuprofen and a ice pack sufficed. I had no trouble sleeping (but on my right side!) Today I took ibuprofen again before going out to run errands but could have done without it. I’ve done all my usual daily activities and have not felt systemically unwell or tired.
To be honest I expected a worse reaction based on all I’ve read.
Reactions vary a lot. Like I said, I didn’t even take any pain reliever and was fine, as were my elders in their 80s/90s who got the shots at the same time. H was just miserable for 48 hours or so, both times. We’re all different.
I just made my appointment for the second Shingrix shot for late October. My HMO won’t give the 2nd shot until 4 months after the 1st.
I got my regular flu shot today at Walgreen’s and asked the pharmacist about Shringrix. He said they sporadically get 6 shots in at a time and have a long waiting list. He thinks maybe the manufacturer is only making the vaccine in batches, but doesn’t understand why they haven’t increased the size of the batches. I asked him about the negative reactions and he told me that only about 10% of patients get a negative reaction. I just sat there and thought he needed to read this thread as I feel like the overwhelming feedback from this group has been to have at least some negative reaction. It may be a tell that I’ve been here too long when I believe the CC community over the pharmacist!
^^Second HiMom:
I had a ‘mild’ case of shingles in Jan and I was miserable for 2 weeks, and felt crappy for a month. My back still fills strange to the touch, almost as if I have lost some sensory/nerve feelings. Again, my case was mild.
Two days of flu-like symptoms from the vaccine are well worth it to not get the real thing folks. Get the vaccine.
Stay healthy my cc friends.
Had my second shingrix shot today. My arm is a bit sore. I’ll let you know if I get the fever and flu like symptoms I had before.
In our sample of the 8 shots taken by 4 of us in my family, most of us had no reaction to speak of. That’s me who is just a hair over 60 and folks 88/93. Only one person reacted—same poor H both shots.
Normally, I tend to be the one with side effects from many meds but really, for me, it was fine. I still say shingles is FAR, FAR worse than the side effects. I haven’t seen H not D so miserable as when they had shingles.
Wait, you had both shots in one day and feel okay? 
Lucky! You must have a very strong constitution.
@busdriver, yes I did. And yes, I guess I was lucky. But then I never have a bad reaction to flu vaccine so I figured I’d give it a go.
@CTmom2018 I would have never even considered getting both at the same time. I always have a bad reaction to the flu vaccine, however, may as well get the suffering done all at once. You make me feel like a wimp. 
@busdriver11, no wimp-- given your bad reaction to flu vaccine, I would call you prudent!
I’m already awake here on the west coast and not feeling well this morning. Fever, chills nausea and body aches. First shot this lasted a day. Hopefully this will be the same. This is the first vaccine I’ve ever had a reaction to.
@showmom858 – I’m sorry to hear – hope that the second reaction will be much shorter than the first for you. I hope you have lots of peeps around to shower you with sympathy too! As an aside, IDK why but just standing in the shower seemed to help me manage some of the symptoms.
@busdriver11 – thanks for the follow up info. Sorry to hear about your reaction though. I, too, had the Shingrix and flu shot same appt. Was actually advised by two nurses and the doc to do so. That’s part of the reason I called the office after. Should have listened to my gut.
Said to husband as he was reliving how horrible I felt “Can you imagine feeling like that for months?” Thinking of you
@alooknac @HImom
Don’t want to generalize, but it would appear that first negative reaction precursor to second.
I got my flu shot today. I asked if they had the new shingles vaccine and they said yes.
I think I’ll wait until I get back from a short trip, in case I feel poorly after getting the shingles shot.
Just checked the CDC website.
1 in 10 experienced an injection type reaction. 1 in 10 experienced systemic reactions. 1 of 6 had reactions that prevented performance of daily activities. Most (78%) experienced at least pain at a injection site. My first was worst reaction to any vaccination or injection. Second I premedicated and was less. Maybe the premed helped I don’t know. Husband had mild case of shingles on neck and I have also seen a case of facial very close to eyes. The sight was enough that there was no doubt I would get 2nd injection.
@Iamom I, too, was checking the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html, Teachable moment for me – inform yourself. Probably an oversight at docs, but neither my husband nor I received any paperwork and just general advice re: ice pack, ibuprofen, etc. Going to follow advice here and medicate prior to second shot.
Although I contacted doc re: reaction and would assume that office will report, there is a link to report on line to CDC an Adverse Reaction (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System: https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html) or call 1-800-822-7967. I only previewed first page of pdf for general info; quite frankly, tentative about giving info online.
Wife loaded up on ibuprofen and felt ok after vaccine. Only noticeable effect was a sore arm.
I too loaded up on ibuprofen before the second vaccination, but still had the same reaction that I had to the first one. Headache, chills, fever, nausea and body aches. I am fortunate that both times it really only had me down for the day after the shot. My arm is still tender today and I had the vaccine last Friday.
The evil part of me wants my boss to get the shots and the reactions, so that he has more empathy.