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Q:
Can a Flu shot lead to Shingles?
By
Michelle King Robson
Expert
HERWriter
October 11, 2008 - 9:42pm
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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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I am a healthy 69 yr male who got the flu shot 3 weeks ago and one and half weeks ago came down with shingles. I believe there is a connection. My shingles responded well to an anti-viral drug and the rash was not painful so -at this point I have almost recovered and the rash has started to dry up-
November 25, 2010 - 8:19amThis Comment
I got the flu shot in early 2003 and developed Bells Palsy that year, followed by Shingles in August (my 40th b-day), and then Pityriasis Rosea in November which lasted for approx the full 12 weeks through the following February (oddly I had it from the top of my head to my feet when normally it stays only on your trunk). My Bells Palsy would come on quarterly and lasted for only approx 2 days at a time which made it hard for the doctor to treat. I always know it is coming because the day before I have an extremely twitchy left eye and I keep blinking b/c it feels like there is a "sty" in your eye when there isnt one. The next day when I wake up I have BP on the left side of my head only and within 2 days it is gone. It was like this for 2 years straight and I havent had a BP episode now in almost 2 years. Note that I went to an infectious disease specialist in S Fla when I was diagnosed with Pityriasis Rosea, and he is the one who immediately asked if I had had a flu shot that year!!! He said all 3 conditions I experienced are being linked to the flu shot and the herpes virus. Yes I had chicken pox as a child.
January 12, 2009 - 8:33pmThis Comment
I received the inactivated flu shot on October 18. Two days later I started having itching and pain (no rash)under my left arm, down my side about 5 inches and around to my scapula. Five days later (today)I'm having severe pain with only a few patches of bumps which look like ant bites. From everything I've researced and from going to my homeopathic physician, I have shingles. I'm convinced it is from the flu shot. I'm a very healthy 60 year old female who eats mostly organic foods and hikes/walks 15-25 miles a week.I did have chicken pox as a child but have never had cold sores or fever blisters. I called the CDC to see if there have been any reports of the flu shot causing shingles and of course the answer was no. I've read numerous accounts online of this happening though.
October 24, 2008 - 9:55amThis Comment
I had a flu shot and developed exactly the same symptoms. I've been diagnosed with shingles. Is there any possibility that the vaccines could be contaminated?
September 29, 2010 - 6:33pmThis Comment
Two weeks ago my mother had the flu shot (2011). About 10 days later she started to develop headache and ear pain. She was diagnosed as having an infected sinus and started a course of antibiotics, which did not help. A few days later, she has now been diagnosed with shingles.
April 21, 2011 - 4:55pmThis Comment
My daughter who is 27 years old and disabled had the new combined flu injection 9days later after she had complained that her back was hurting her I noticed a rash on her left side and on to her back, yes she was diagnosed with shingles. I am convinced the combined flu injection caused her to have shingles,its to much of a coincident.
October 28, 2010 - 3:13pmThis Comment
My daughter who is 27 years old and disabled had the new combined flu injection 9days later after she had complained that her back was hurting her I noticed a rash on her left side and on to her back, yes she was diagnosed with shingles. I am convinced the combined flu injection caused her to have shingles,its to much of a coincident.
October 28, 2010 - 3:11pmThis Comment
I had a flu shot at Safeway a couple weeks ago, about 3-5 days after the shot I came down with shingles. Have heard of a couple other people coming down with it ...from friends. I honestly think there must be something in this years vaccine that trigered it. I'm not a stressed out person and haven't had anything happen in the last couple weeks that might have brought this on otherwise. I do know that they have a vaccine for shingles, I'm wondering if I should get one? Thanks, so nice to hear I'm not the only person thinking it was from the flu shot!
October 5, 2010 - 11:15amThis Comment
I had a flu shot at Safeway a couple weeks ago, about 3-5 days after the shot I came down with shingles. Have heard of a couple other people coming down with it ...from friends. I honestly think there must be something in this years vaccine that trigered it. I'm not a stressed out person and haven't had anything happen in the last couple weeks that might have brought this on otherwise. I do know that they have a vaccine for shingles, I'm wondering if I should get one? Thanks, so nice to hear I'm not the only person thinking it was from the flu shot!
October 5, 2010 - 11:15amThis Comment
I had a flu shot 1 week and a half ago. I was experiencing vertigo and thought it may be due to allergies from the change in weather. 4 days later after taking decongestants I still had pain and thought I had a sinus infection due to the horrendous pressure in my ears and swollen lymph nodes. My eye began to swell and I took Benedryl again thinking it was allergies. The nest morning I woke up with my eye swollen and huge with blisters. I went to the doctor who diagnosed me with shingles. DO NOT GET THE FLU SHOT!! I did nothing different other than that and I have not had one for 17 years and thought I would get one to reduce my risk of aquiring the flu this year (2009).
September 28, 2009 - 9:34pmThis Comment