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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 had a flu shot 8/24/10 at 2:00 pm est. The next morning I had a very itchy feeling around my ears and the back of my head. This morning my eye was almost closed from swelling. I went to the doctor and I have shingles at age 55. This is the second time I've had shingles.

August 26, 2010 - 8:19am

Hi, I am in New Zealand and had the flu vaccine 13 days ago. Yesterday I broke out in shingles so I also wondered if there was a connection. I have never had either shingles or a flu vaccination before. Will definitely think twice about getting the flu vaccine again.

June 29, 2010 - 2:27pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hey there, just wanted to add another notch to your statistics. I'm a 37-year-old male. Got the flu shot in Oct 09 and had shingles symptoms within a week (full-blown shingles in 2 weeks). I had chicken pox as a young child, and I've had flu shots for the previous 15 years (military requirement--not by choice). It was my first and only case of shingles. I will never take the flu vaccine again.

June 7, 2010 - 6:22am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

My 82-yr old mom received the flu shot and she broke out an hour later. Thought it was just a rash... nope... SHINGLES. Seems way to coincidental.

May 26, 2010 - 8:51am
(reply to Anonymous)

Shingles can be brought on by stress or an immune challenge, such as illness or an immune response to vaccine. The virus lays hidden in your nerves, and then something that stresses your immune system can kick it off. So it makes sense that sometimes a vaccine could be the culprit.

May 26, 2010 - 11:20am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Cary Cook BSN RN)

Yes, well why won't doctors just admit this and quit saying there is no connection? Let's start a class action lawsuit. Oh, that's probably why they won't.

April 2, 2012 - 7:45pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Cary Cook BSN RN)

She had a shingles vaccine two years ago. I sure hope that helps reduce the pain and discomfort. She called the clinic right away to tell them she broke out. They told her to stay home and that it will get better. I would now like to invite that person out to the house for my mom's 3AM dose of medicine.

May 26, 2010 - 12:08pm

....or what you thought was flu virus was actually the onset of Shingles. When I was in the process of getting my Shingles outbreak, I suffered for about two months prior with body aches, tiredness and flu like symptoms. Two days before the rash erupted I drove myself to the ER thinking I had a colon blockage or appendicitis or a gallbladder attack.
I thought I was going to die.
I hope you have an easier go of it.

April 14, 2010 - 5:38pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I am just recovering from a flu virus and am thinking that the virus somehow has triggered some shingles symptoms. I very rarely get the flu, never take the vaccination, and it has been 8 years since my first and only shingles outbreak. So far I have no blisters or rash but that same unforgettable intense itch/burning pain on my left scapula and underarm. All other flu symptoms are gone other than some fatigue. Conclusion? Weakened immune system allows Shingles virus to activate.

April 14, 2010 - 11:50am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Google attorneys who specialize in this. You'll find them. If there are attorneys, there's a connection.

April 11, 2010 - 8:07pm
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