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Can a Flu shot lead to Shingles?

By Expert HERWriter October 11, 2008 - 9:42pm
 
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flu shot

dear michelle, a 76 year old friend recently had a flu shot and developed a case of shingles. any connection? coincidental? thanxs so much

Jean

Has anyone ever heard of this or had this happen to them?

Michelle

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I am a 54 y.o. healthy female. I had my first flu shot ever on 11/19/15. Exactly 14 days later I developed a raging first time ever Shingles outbreak accompanied by Vertigo. Nevet a flu shot again. Nevet.

December 8, 2015 - 4:34pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I've had shingles four times this will make five. I had the flu vaccine December 1, 2015 tonight December 4, 2015 I have broken out with the second worst shingles rash I've ever had. There must be a correlation. It's the same arm and it is traveling down the same nerve from my wrist to my upper thigh. This is going to be bad.

December 3, 2015 - 9:13pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I never had a flew shot in my life. I decided to get one. A couple of days later I get shingles. I was 47 years old in excellent health. When I discussed this possibility with the doctor they initially questioned the possibility but said nothing to the contrary. I informed them that shot could have temporarily lowered my immunity. I have been reading several comments saying the same thing.

May 22, 2016 - 6:39pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I had my flu shot on November 30, 15 and developed a severe rash fever and generally feeling awful. I have never had Shingles before but had the chicken pox as a child. Was wondering if the shot may be the trigged cause I would rather have the flu.

December 4, 2015 - 5:15pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I am a 75 y/o female who has experienced shingles several times. On two occasions I got shingles after having a flu shot. Most recently I received the extra strength flu shot which is recommended for persons over 65. The next day I felt pain in my neck which I assumed was a rx from the shot. By Monday the pain had progressed into my scalp and I was diagnosed with Shingles -- again. I have been told by both my pharmacist and PCP that the flu shot does not exacerbated a shingles event. I believe it can.

November 23, 2015 - 10:11am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Same with me i have also developed shingles from the flu i knew something was up

November 19, 2015 - 7:59pm

I'm a 65 year old male, on a Tuesday I had an Endoscopy, 2 days later (Thursday) I had a physical and a flu shot (I had the virus shot approx. 1 year ago). On Friday evening approx. 28 hrs after my flu shot a broke out with shingles.

Certainly a coincidence due to timing, my pharmacist didn't believe there was a correlation nor did the clinic that I went the next day, Saturday.

i started getting shingles when I was 26 before anyone really new what it was; a young doctor (looked to be about 15 walked in the room (I was put in quarantine - it was bad) and he said, "you have shingles-you're hear for 10 days).

There you have it - but I do believe there is some correlation to the flu shot. Given those that get the shot are given a "dead virus" the body is saying time to get to work building anti-bodies; is it possible the system was busy starting to work that they forgot about the "chicken pox - shingles"? Sounds silly but something tells me more is going on between the 2!!!!!

Any thought?

Jim

November 17, 2015 - 5:45am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to JimmyJack)

Ditto....to some of the comments,flu jab ,week or so after "shingles"!!!
I am 68 had my share of illness , back pain etc but shingles is a nightmare. I am now over the worst ( 6 weeks down the line) but there is related stuff going on

March 10, 2016 - 3:04am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I got a flu shot on Thursday by Sunday I had shingles on the same arm wrapping around on the shoulder ....

November 16, 2015 - 5:52am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Flu Shot 11/4.
Headache starts 11/6.
Shingles (Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus) confirmed 11/10/2015.
What a gift!!!!

November 10, 2015 - 5:53pm
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