ask: Can a Flu shot lead to Shingles?
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
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment206 Comments
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?
October 12, 2008 - 6:36amThis Comment
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,
October 12, 2008 - 10:58amMichelle
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 - 9:55amI 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 - 9:34pmI'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.
September 30, 2009 - 6:57amI am a healthy 47 year old female. I took the flu shot for the first time last year after much insistence from my employer. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with Shingles. I did not take the flu shot this year after much encouragement from my employer. I am convinced the shot brought the shingles on. I have never had the FLU or any flu-like symptoms. I have been advised by our occu-care that it is impossible to get shingles from the flu vaccine. I disagree.
October 2, 2009 - 10:30amI'm a 67 year old female who received a flu shot on Sept. 14th 2009. Two weeks after my shot, my left upper leg felt numb for a week, after which I had flu like symptoms and immediately broke out on that same leg with a painful case of Shingles. I definitely belive there is a connection between the shot and Shingles since I've never had anything like this before. I'm on a 10 day supply of 800 milligrams of Acyclovir every 5 hours along with 75 milligrams of Lyrica taken twice daily.
October 10, 2009 - 7:38pmMy name is Verina and I am looking for someone, who has caught shingles shortly after the flu shot. This happened to my mother after taking the shot during September of 2009.
July 18, 2010 - 3:21pmHi Verina,
I just responded to your other post regarding your mom who had a flu shot in October of 2009, and is experiencing pain at the site of her injection. You did not specifically mention if she has shingles in the previous post.
Can you tell us more about her symptoms? Have they been chronic since September/October 2009 (9-10 months), or is she just now experiencing symptoms?
Has your mom talked with her doctor about these symptoms?
July 18, 2010 - 8:16pmI 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 - 6:33pm