I had the first shot a couple of weeks ago and while i did not feel ill, my arm was really sore for almost a week. I had the TDaP booster at the same time and I asked that the shingles shot be given in my non-dominant arm because of what I’d read here. The nurse insisted that the tetanus booster would cause more soreness so she convinced me to have that shot in my non-dominant arm. Boy was she wrong - no issue with the tetanus shot, major issues with the Shingrix shot 
I am ready for my 2nd Shingrix shot. Apparently my BCBS ACA policy covered the first shot 100%. (I think it was billed around $150) This next shot will be on Medicare. I felt crappy for a couple of days afterward. I think Advil helped. I will be more willing to take a few this time.
No issues with the Shingrix shot for me or my spouse.
haven’t had shingrix yet (just had shingles in Jan so waiting until next Jan – don’t ask why, since I don’t know), but fwiw, I always get vaccines in the dominant arm. Bcos you move the dominant arm constantly, the soreness wears off faster as the muscles are always contracting increasing blood flow.
(or maybe its all in my head!)
@bluebayou–There is no restriction on timing for Shingrix after having had shingles. The only restriction is that you don’t have a rash from shingles currently.
@MaineLonghorn – I couldn’t find anything specific to Shingrix but Hepatitis B vaccine is given in the arm rather than buttocks because of insufficient antibody response from that site… In fact with Hep B vaccine it is suggested that if you received the shot in the gluteal muscle to have it re-done in the arm.
@gouf78, the nurse did check to make sure it was OK to administer the shot in the butt.
Well, wondering who told her or where she checked because the CDC appears to disagree.
GlaxoSmithKlein who makes Shingrix on administration sites.
Shingrix is for intramuscular (IM) injection only, preferably in the deltoid muscle. GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK) does not have data on efficacy, immunogenicity and/or safety of Shingrix when administered
at other IM sites.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published recommendations from the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices on this topic. Please see below for those recommendations The CDC has published recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) on IM administration of vaccines includes only deltoid (arm) or thigh as possible sites…
(4)
“Best practice guidance for route, site, and dosage of immunobiologics is derived from data from clinical
trials, practical experience, normal periodicity of health-care visits, and theoretical considerations. ACIP
discourages variations from the recommended route, site, volume, or number of doses of any vaccine.
Variation from the recommended route and site can result in inadequate protection. … Intramuscular
injections [in] adults ≥ 19 years of age: [T]he deltoid muscle is recommended for routine intramuscular
vaccinations. The anterolateral thigh also can be used.”
Interesting @gouf78 It never would have occurred to me that it would matter where you got a shot - in your arm vs in your butt. Of course I haven’t had one there since I was a little kid.
Why you shouldn’t use the buttocks as injection site for vaccines. (Not other drugs but for vaccines).
“Traditionally the buttocks were thought to be an appropriate site for vaccination, but the layers of fat do not contain the appropriate cells that are necessary to initiate the immune response (phagocytic or antigen-presenting cells).
The antigen may also take longer to reach the circulation after being deposited in fat, leading to a delay in processing by macrophages and eventually presentation to the T and B cells that are involved in the immune response. In addition, antigens may be denatured by enzymes if they remain in fat for hours or days. The importance of these factors is supported by the findings that thicker skinfolds are associated with a lowered antibody response to vaccines.1,2”
Very disappointed with my experience in trying to arrange the Shingrix shot for my husband. (Yes, after lots of nagging I further enabled him, after he agreed to it, by pursuing the arrangements for him.)
I know it is in short supply and demand is backed up in our area. I had tried several places and was told not available. When I called our local Walgreens last evening, the young lady who answered the phone assured me that the Shingrix vaccine was in stock. I then made an appointment online for my husband specifically for Shingrix (which was a specific option on the menu). He got a confirmation e-mail and headed over early for the appointment this morning.
Guess what – not in stock! Despite having double-checked. Not expected in until September.
I can understand the scarcity of the item, but there should be better consistency between what customers are told either over the phone or online, and the reality. This experience was a frustrating waste of time for our family.
I put us on the waiting list for Shingrix at a couple pharmacy chains. They don’t know how long it will be until they get more.
gouf: yeah, thanks. I’m just not mentally ready, yet, and since the job stressor that likely triggered the shingle outbreak has resolved itself, I’m thinking I have a year grace period. Plus, I’ll have Medicare by then, unlike our crappy High Deductible employee plan. Nevertheless, I might stop by Costco in the fall to inquire what the price would be today, instead of waiting for Medicare.
I was told by a provider to wait 6 months. That may have just been a off the cuff remark however.
I asked my PCP about Shingrix and she said if I had had the Zostavax I was sufficiently covered. I said I had heard that it was recommended even if you had had Zostavax. She was good enough to go check and came back to say I was right.
An IM injection shouldn’t be injected into fat tissue. I am not blessed with a bubble butt. An IM injection into my butt (dorso gluteal, the high part of the butt where muscle is more prominent-figure1a) would go straight into muscle, not fat; wouldn’t require an extra long needle.
Unfortunately.
But for most, the ventrogluteal (figure 1C) would probably be the better site if you don’t want it in the arm. It’s on the side of the hip.
This is in reference to chemo, but it has good anatomy pics:
I just got dose 1 of Shingrix at a pharmacy in Seattle two days ago. I felt a bit under the weather yesterday—as if a cold was coming on—but only for about 6 hours. I do have a huge red welt on my arm about 3” x 2” which is not over the injection site but about 1 inch below the injection site. The arm is tender to the touch but functional. Seems like I got off easy with the first dose!
Told DH to get the Shigrex three months ago when I did, nope, now the local Costco says maybe October!
I just called my local pharmacy, and they are out it. I told the gentleman that I wasn’t panicking yet, because I had the first shot in April, and although I was within the 2 months starting time, I had until October (6 months) to get the second shot. He told me if I didn’t get the 2nd shot within 6 months I would have to start all over. I didn’t argue with him, but I thought this was incorrect. I know it is a new vaccine, but there seems to be a lot of misinformation out there. I checked the CDC website and found, for healthcare professionals: