My arm was sore with the both shots. Didn’t keep me from doing anything other than sleeping on my left side for a couple nights. I have heard that some people do not come back for the second shot because the pain was so bad. Wasn’t an issue for me. And avoiding shingles is well worth it to me.
Lucky you folks who have found this shot. It is totally unavailable still where I live. Places aren’t even making waitlists anymore. When I ask if they have any idea when this vaccine will be available…the answer is…no.
Not an expert, but I felt crappy within two hours on shot 1, and then ~5 hours on shot 2. Felt elevated temp and crappy for 48 hours on vaccine 1, and only crappy – no elevated temp – for 24 hours on #2.
Received vaccine in dominant arm so it got plenty of use, which help dissipate the vaccine faster. Arm never really sore.
Just took Aleve both times. Da wife prefers Tylenol or Advil.
Had shingles, so I’ll take a vaccine any day. But fortunately, we didn’t have a bad reaction.
Good luck.
After waiting more than a year, the vaccine finally became available. I got it Friday evening in hopes I won’t have to miss work next week. The injection itself wasn’t very painful for me and I felt OK last night. Exhausted and achy all day today. My joints really hurt. It would be very difficult to work today.
I’m hoping I’ll be well enough to go to Mother’s Day brunch tomorrow or I’ll have another reason to hate the dastardly shingles. I wrote the on this thread many pages ago about how I had shingles nine years ago in my optic nerve with permanent eye damage. I got Zostavax but wanted to get Shingrix because it is so much more effective.
I have been reading that it’s the adjuvant that’s causing all the side effects. It’s helping the vaccine be more effective, but it is the first time being used in the US. It’s made from a purified form of a tree bark native to Chile.
This is my first mother’s day in years where I’m not helping a kid move in or out of a dorm. So I decided to wait til after the mother’s day brunch and get it in the afternoon tomorrow. I talked to the pharmacist today and got the paperwork to fill out and bring in tomorrow. I’m not going into work til Wednesday and plan for some low key days Monday and Tuesday at home if need be.
If there is a Costco near you, get on their waiting list. I signed up and about a month later got a call.
My arm was sore the night I had the shots and tender maybe another night it two. H felt like he had the flu and had to sleep for a day or two with both his shots. My folks didn’t complain of noticing any side effects.
I know of three people who have had shingles in the past few months. I got the Shingrix vaccine today; it was 100% covered by my insurance (Blue +/shield PPO). The pharmacy had two doses in stock, so I ran on over and got stuck! Geesh! I didn’t read this thread before I went - I hope I don’t get sick!
I had the vaccine on Sunday. Pretty sore arm but that was it. Hoping for the second dose to come in within the 2-6 month time frame. I kniw you can go longer under new CDC rules but I’d like to get it done. Now going for a measles vaccine tomorrow. I was born in one of the years where they say you should get it now.
Shingles are terrible. Steroids are awesome.
@mikemac the nearest Costco is over 45 minutes away…and I’m not a member anyway. And last I heard, that Costco store was not taking waitlist names.
I’ve asked at Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, Stop and Shop, Big Y, Rite Aid…and none are taking any names…and all say the same thing…they have no idea when they will see the vaccine.
My apologies if you’ve answered this before, but does your doctor not stock the vaccine? I got my first dose in my PCP’s office (they happened to have a dose when I was in for an appointment) and they put my name on the waitlist for the second dose. When it wasn’t available within the recommended window, they suggested I check the local pharmacies. Of course, no one had it and though I was on a few wait lists, my doctor’s office called in January (6 months after my first dose) and said they had one for me. I think patients who had the first dose were put on the top of the list for the second.
We were told that medicare does not pay for it if from the doctors office.
Our doctors do not stock this (expensive) vaccine at all.
@rockymtnhigh2 that’s funny. We were told that this would be covered if given in a doctors office. But around here…the docs are not giving it.
No doctors offices around here stocked it since it is in short supply and it takes too much time to manage the 2ait lists. They let pharmacies worry about it instead.
Had my first shingles shot early this morning, so far just a little sore and achy near injection site. Hope it stays that way and no increased pain.
Had it at my primary doctor’s office, was told to go back in 2-6 month for second dose but recommended to go back soon after the 2nd month in case they run out since they only got 30 dozes.
I was in CVS this morning and just casually asked about availability of the vaccine and they said they had it. Got my first dose today and scheduled the second. So far, so good.
@my-3-sons don’t be surprised if you wake up tomorrow sore or not feeling great.
@MaineLonghorn We have no plans this weekend, so I figured it would be a good time to get it in case that happens.
My arm was sore for a day or so but ibuprofen did the job. Based on advice here I had the shot on the side I don’t sleep on so it did not disturb sleep much.