Can a Flu shot lead to Shingles?

I was just diagnosed with Shingles January 6, 2011 and had my flu shot around October 1, 2010. I just googled "Flu shot shingles" and this is the first site I hit. I can't believe how many people are having reactions. Looks like we all need to get together and contact the CDC. There is more power in numbers!

Hi there
There is CONNECTION between flu shot and shingles, of cousre CDC will say no connection !!!
I am a healthy guy that got his first 3 in 1 flu shot in October 2010 at wallgreens - now I have shingles on the RIGHT side where I got the shot !!!!!

last year I got the swine flu shot, and a week or so later, I got shingles. I am a very healthy 48 year old woman, who exercises 4 days a week, am not overweight, and has a very healthy diet. I also did not have much stress at that time. The biggest reason I link my outbreak of shingles (affected area was my face) to the shot is because I've never had chicken pox. I remember being told that the only way to get shingles is if you had had chicken pox at some point.

I wish i had googled this before my husband (age 70) had his flu jab 2 weeks ago. He has now been diagnosed with shingles around his eye and forehead. Needless to say he won`t be having the jab again!!

I also had a flu shot the day before Thanksgiving and today was diagnosed with shingles.I wish that I had known this was a side effect of the flu shot.I think its slightly coincidental that I developed this when I'm a health and diet conscious 50yr old. I'm under less stress now than ever, so that argument isn't working for me.

My husband & I both received the flu shot a week & half ago. I was not going to get it this year but my doctor urged me to. My husband, who had a heart transplant in 2006 developed shingles 2 months post-transplant & it appears he again has the shingles. We see a local doctor today & if his eye is affected, which it appears it is, we have to immediately drive 5 hrs. to his transplant hospital so that he can be hospitalized & treated by IV & monitored by his cardiac transplant team. I didn't think to mention to his Transplant NP that he had the shot but will tell her 1st thing this morning. He has been required to get it each year. Can't say that it is due to the shot but also can't say that it isnt't. I have a neighbor who believes the flu shot killed her mom several years ago. I WON'T be convinced to get it ever again!

I also had a flu shot 2-3 weeks ago and now have shingles !! Interesing posts. I will probably not get the shot next year but as a beginning teacher I thought it was a good idea at the time!

I am a very healthy and fit 38 year old woman. My daughters and I had the 2010 2-in-1 flu vaccination and just under 2 weeks later, I was diagnosed with shingles on the left side of my back. While it was not as painful as I hear it could be, it caused me so much emotional stress because I thought there must be something seriously wrong with me if I am this young and develop shingles. After a large panel of blood tests, I am confirmed healthy. I lead a very stress-free life. Can this really be a coincidence when there are hundreds of people posting about shingles shortly after receiving a flu shot?!?! This was my first flu shot ever (as well as my childrens) and we will NEVER get them again. Esp. because both of my daughters have contracted the flu despite the shot 2 months ago.

I think it's interesting that on the flu vaccine brochure that you are given, the side effects mentioned include a rare but serious complication called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. This is an inflammation of the nerves that can cause paralysis. Shingles (herpes zoster) is also an inflammation of the nerves, and if you Google Guillain-Barre Syndrome + Shingles, there IS a connection. I'm not naive enough to think there is a shingles virus IN the flu vaccine, but something in the flu vaccine stresses the immune system enough to cause the shingles flare-up. It's something the CDC should put as a possible complication of the flu vaccine -- it's called informed consent! Let the people decide if the risk of the flu vaccine is worth the benefit! For me, it wasn't. I wish the CDC wouldn't keep ignoring this!