Can a Flu shot lead to Shingles?
October 11, 2008 - 9:42pm
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101 comments
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'm not sure, but I found a site (from the US Department of Health and Human Services) that is the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It contains a list of vaccines and their "adverse effects":
http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/table.htm
(there are no adverse effects listed for the flu shot, or influenza vaccine).
Anyone else find a credible source that says otherwise?
Hi Alison,
Thanks for the information. Let's see if we can find out more about this.
Maybe others have had this reaction with the flu shot and then getting shingles???
I'm sure we're going to find out more, since so many women have been more then willing to share with EmpowHer.
Best in health,
Michelle
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.
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).
I've been researching where to get a flu shot and over the weekend made a list of dates and times that it will be offered locally. About 2 days later I developed shingles. Before getting the flu shot. Should I conclude that merely thinking about getting the flu shot caused my shingles? I think you'll agree that this would be faulty logic.
I have been fighting a sinus congestion for the past few weeks, due to seasonal allergies. My point is that a certain percentage of people will get shingles regardless of whether they receive a flu vaccine. There is a very good chance that your immune system has been weakened a bit from the sinus issues, leading to emergence of the shingles. The flu shot doesn't weaken your immune system. It stimulates it.