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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

Add a Comment366 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I'm convinced from anecdotal evidence that flu shots cause shingles.
What can we do about it?

October 29, 2017 - 7:29pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I was just searching for side effects of the flu shot and found this and all these comments about shingles. I'm a 46 yo male and had my first ever flu shot on 10/16 and by 10/19-20 developed a small rash of what appears to be shingles on my right torso.

October 23, 2017 - 8:51pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I was just googling this subject. I have a medically suppressed immune system. Took the flu and pneumonia vaccines last week, now I have shingles. In 2014 I did take the Zoster vaccine. Now on antibiotics to cure shingles but have to discontinue suppression drugs till I get past shingles. And btw I'm a male in my late 60's.

October 21, 2017 - 9:34am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

never heard of antibiotics for shingles.

October 21, 2017 - 3:12pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I just had the flu shot less than a week ago and now I have shingles. This is the first year I have had the flu shot. Now I wish I wouldn't have. :(

October 16, 2017 - 8:53pm
(reply to Anonymous)

I think the same thing is happening to me. I had a flu shot, encouraged by my PC Dr against my flu shot paranoia. I have been feeling increasingly worse these last few days, and I have a raised bumpy place on the back of my head. Dr gave me doxycycline last week because she thought it was an infected sebaceous cyst (I've never had a sebaceous cyst in my 52 years). Now this place on my head is extremely painful. Guess I'll go back to doctor again.

October 18, 2017 - 1:06pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

This is the best explanation I heard from another site. It makes perfect sense. I would be very wary of getting flu shot now due to having shingles.

Shingles are caused by the herpes virus.....usually acquired when one contracts
chicken pox. Shingles flare up and become active, usually in older people, when
their bodies are being stressed like from lack of sleep, poor diet or in this case
the immune system being challenged to cope with a new demand....the flu vaccine.

The vaccine itself did not cause the shingles outbreak....the outbreak is a response
to your body's immunes system responding...as intended...to the vaccine.

October 16, 2017 - 3:04pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I got the flu shot a little over a week ago. I am obligated to have it for work. Three days ago I got Shingles. Seems to be related.

October 10, 2017 - 6:39pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I had to have the flu shot for work also. I now have shingles on my face! Very frustrating!

November 17, 2017 - 9:52pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I got a flu shot last week after years of fighting against it. I'm a nursing student and was forced to get and now I have shingles! I believe it is related!

October 16, 2017 - 7:41am
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