Can a Flu shot lead to Shingles?

My husband got the flu shot 6 days ago and started developing shingles 2 days later. He has confirmed opthalmic shingles, is in horrible pain. He is 40 and normally healthy. Shingles can be activated by stress. Isn't it possible that the immune response to the flu shot IS a stressor. I understand why the CDC would not acknowledge this connection and claim coincidence but I think this much anecdotal information warrants research.

My son recieved a flu shot almost 2 weeks ago and 5 days later developed a rash which looked like little blisters. His pediatrician yesterday just diagnosed him with shingles. He said the flu shot did trigger something which caused this flare up of shingles. Today I'm taking him back again because his hand is swollen and he can't move his arm. The clinic that provided the shot is denying that the two are correlated but I believe otherwise.

renee625
I agree that everyone that has experienced any type of reaction to the flu shot needs to make it known to the CDC. Of course, medical professions around the world will not agree that there is a link between the flu shot and the shingles, but we that have experienced shingles shortly after receiving flu shots have our doubts. I am approaching the one year mark for my bout with shingles and I am still experiencing severe burning and itching in my scalp and ear (PHN). I am still on medication to help soothe the pain and discomfort, but I will never take another flu shot. It frightens me when I hear that people develop shingles every year or more than once in a lifetime --that is not good news.

I posted on this site 2 years ago, after getting shingles after a flu shot vaccine. I'm amazed that every fall/winter this website is filled with similar stories from others. It is more than anecdotal; there is some link between the 2 viruses. I still refuse to get the flu vaccine, and even 2 years later I still have occasional sensitivity on my trunk from shingles. Please report your symptoms to the VAERS website for CDC. The more people report...the more seriously the CDC will take this.

Hi all - We advised the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) of this last year after receiving several inquiries on the site. We heard back from one of their doctors, Carolyn Bridges, MD:

"Influenza vaccines contain either inactivated or killed virus or they contain a weakened form of influenza virus. Thus, they cannot cause shingles. Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles is relatively common so it is possible that some cases of shingles may occur around the time of influenza vaccination, but that would be coincidental. There is no evidence that influenza vaccination leads to shingles. Influenza and shingles are caused by very different viruses."

For more information, visit

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/default.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

I too have developed shingles on the left side of my head and face 3 weeks after getting the flu vaccine which was required at the hospital I work (otherwise you wear a mask for your 12-hour shifts!). I will never get another flu vaccine. I would rather wear a mask than to go through this again. Someone at the CDC needs to investigate this. Something is going on.

I received a flu shot, Oct 21, 2010. Within 3 hours I felt slightly ill and my side around my left chest began to ache. Two days later, there were little red patches. Three days later, I had many small blisters on my left breast circling around to my back. Four days later, I finally got diagnosed, and a prescription for shingles. Five days later, I still have chills headache and pain, and lots of itching of large blisters. I think it most definitely was related to having received a flu shot 5 days ago.

I am 40 year old male, petite and in very good health. Never had shingles before but I had chicken fox when I was a kid. I got the flu shot two weeks ago for the first time after I started a new job. I got flu like symptoms a day after. In two days I developed a painful bump under my left arm near my left breast in four days a few more painful pimble like bumps developed around the first one. I thought I was developing a boil or something. Now its more than a two weeks and they are recovering but they are still sore and they fit shingles symptoms exactly. They have a block sport at the tip but have no pus but clear fluid or just nothing in them. I am not itching but they are really painful. I haven't seen a Dr yet but my wife is a RN and has confirmed that its shingles. I plan to see a Dr this week since I just go my insurance but I don't expect them to say it ws the shot. I just hope the vaccine was not contaminated.

I am 43 and was diagnosed with shingles last week, just one week after getting the combined regular and H1N1 flu shot. After looking through these posting, I have to believe there is a connection...has any research been published to suggest there is a link?