Got my recombinant Zoster shot today

[daniel1948]

Hurray for recombinant DNA and genetically modified everything! I got the old vaccine a few years ago but it's not as effective. So today I got the recombinant Zoster vaccine. It was a little more painful than a flu shot. My arm is a little sore at the injection site and they told me the arm will get pretty painful. They also told me there's a 60% chance I'll get headaches, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, probably later this evening, and it's okay to take OTC pain relief. My mother got shingles and it was pretty awful, so I'm glad to endure a bit of unpleasantness to have more protection than the older vaccine gives.

Of course I hope I get nothing worse than a little soreness at the injection site so I don't have to miss several days of paddling. They told me I can paddle if I feel well enough that I think I can.

[bachfiend]

Hurray for recombinant DNA and genetically modified everything! I got the old vaccine a few years ago but it's not as effective. So today I got the recombinant Zoster vaccine. It was a little more painful than a flu shot. My arm is a little sore at the injection site and they told me the arm will get pretty painful. They also told me there's a 60% chance I'll get headaches, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, probably later this evening, and it's okay to take OTC pain relief. My mother got shingles and it was pretty awful, so I'm glad to endure a bit of unpleasantness to have more protection than the older vaccine gives.

Of course I hope I get nothing worse than a little soreness at the injection site so I don't have to miss several days of paddling. They told me I can paddle if I feel well enough that I think I can.

Congratulations.  I don’t think I need the recombinant Zoster vaccine (although I might be wrong).  I had shingles around 15 years ago (and became very popular at the Red Cross with my herpes zoster antibodies being harvested every two weeks for almost 2 years).  My virologist told me I’m extremely unlikely to have a second episode of shingles unless I live to a very old age.

[daniel1948]

Hurray for recombinant DNA and genetically modified everything! I got the old vaccine a few years ago but it's not as effective. So today I got the recombinant Zoster vaccine. It was a little more painful than a flu shot. My arm is a little sore at the injection site and they told me the arm will get pretty painful. They also told me there's a 60% chance I'll get headaches, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, probably later this evening, and it's okay to take OTC pain relief. My mother got shingles and it was pretty awful, so I'm glad to endure a bit of unpleasantness to have more protection than the older vaccine gives.

Of course I hope I get nothing worse than a little soreness at the injection site so I don't have to miss several days of paddling. They told me I can paddle if I feel well enough that I think I can.

Congratulations.  I don’t think I need the recombinant Zoster vaccine (although I might be wrong).  I had shingles around 15 years ago (and became very popular at the Red Cross with my herpes zoster antibodies being harvested every two weeks for almost 2 years).  My virologist told me I’m extremely unlikely to have a second episode of shingles unless I live to a very old age.

I was under the impression that if you've ever had zoster or chicken pox you have the virus forever and an outbreak is always possible. However, your virologist knows your particular situation and I know pretty much nothing except that my mother said that getting shingles was horrid, and she mostly never complained about anything.

This morning I have a little soreness in my arm at the injection site and some soreness in my shoulders, though that last could be from paddling. I woke up with a very low-grade headache, and was a bit sluggish and was able to sleep an hour longer than normal. So as of about 20 hours after the shot I have a very mild case of the side effects they told me to expect. Well worth it to me to gain added protection from shingles.

[bachfiend]

Hurray for recombinant DNA and genetically modified everything! I got the old vaccine a few years ago but it's not as effective. So today I got the recombinant Zoster vaccine. It was a little more painful than a flu shot. My arm is a little sore at the injection site and they told me the arm will get pretty painful. They also told me there's a 60% chance I'll get headaches, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, probably later this evening, and it's okay to take OTC pain relief. My mother got shingles and it was pretty awful, so I'm glad to endure a bit of unpleasantness to have more protection than the older vaccine gives.

Of course I hope I get nothing worse than a little soreness at the injection site so I don't have to miss several days of paddling. They told me I can paddle if I feel well enough that I think I can.

Congratulations.  I don’t think I need the recombinant Zoster vaccine (although I might be wrong).  I had shingles around 15 years ago (and became very popular at the Red Cross with my herpes zoster antibodies being harvested every two weeks for almost 2 years).  My virologist told me I’m extremely unlikely to have a second episode of shingles unless I live to a very old age.

I was under the impression that if you've ever had zoster or chicken pox you have the virus forever and an outbreak is always possible. However, your virologist knows your particular situation and I know pretty much nothing except that my mother said that getting shingles was horrid, and she mostly never complained about anything.

This morning I have a little soreness in my arm at the injection site and some soreness in my shoulders, though that last could be from paddling. I woke up with a very low-grade headache, and was a bit sluggish and was able to sleep an hour longer than normal. So as of about 20 hours after the shot I have a very mild case of the side effects they told me to expect. Well worth it to me to gain added protection from shingles.

I had a very mild attack.  Just the rash, no pruritus, no pain.  Possibly because I diagnosed it myself within hours of it starting and going on the antivirals the same day (some people doubt whether it is effective, but I had so few symptoms I think they must have worked).

I went at least 45 years before the herpes zoster recurred, so if it’s another 45 years I’ll be 100.

[The Latinist]

My father and grandfather, on the other hand, each had shingles repeatedly at much shorter intervals. I worked with a man in his 60’s who had it twice in 10 years. My understanding is that it varies greatly from person to person, and can also be influenced by stress and re-exposure.

I’ll be getting my shingles vaccine as soon as I am eligible. My dad was a stoic, but I remember him weeping over the pain of his shingles.

[bachfiend]

My father and grandfather, on the other hand, each had shingles repeatedly at much shorter intervals. I worked with a man in his 60’s who had it twice in 10 years. My understanding is that it varies greatly from person to person, and can also be influenced by stress and re-exposure.

I’ll be getting my shingles vaccine as soon as I am eligible. My dad was a stoic, but I remember him weeping over the pain of his shingles.

The Australian government provides it free for the senile seniors over 70, so I’ll wait till then:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/resources/images/shingles-brochure.pdf

[daniel1948]

My father and grandfather, on the other hand, each had shingles repeatedly at much shorter intervals. I worked with a man in his 60’s who had it twice in 10 years. My understanding is that it varies greatly from person to person, and can also be influenced by stress and re-exposure.

I’ll be getting my shingles vaccine as soon as I am eligible. My dad was a stoic, but I remember him weeping over the pain of his shingles.

The Australian government provides it free for the senile seniors over 70, so I’ll wait till then:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/resources/images/shingles-brochure.pdf

The brochure says only a single dose is needed, so I wonder if that's the older vaccine or the newer Shingrix vaccine, because I was told I need a booster in a couple of months. My insurance pays for it. (Of course, I pay a bundle for my insurance!)

[Friendly Angel]

I have been waiting for two years for the Shingrix vaccine to be available.  My doctor recommended it but didn't have any.  Now I see the pharmacy has it and I'm a little hesitant trying to figure out a good time to be sick afterwards.  Pharmacist confirmed it was two injections; 2-6 months apart, and they don't expect to run out soon.

[jt512]

Hurray for recombinant DNA and genetically modified everything! I got the old vaccine a few years ago but it's not as effective. So today I got the recombinant Zoster vaccine. It was a little more painful than a flu shot. My arm is a little sore at the injection site and they told me the arm will get pretty painful. They also told me there's a 60% chance I'll get headaches, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, probably later this evening, and it's okay to take OTC pain relief. My mother got shingles and it was pretty awful, so I'm glad to endure a bit of unpleasantness to have more protection than the older vaccine gives.

Of course I hope I get nothing worse than a little soreness at the injection site so I don't have to miss several days of paddling. They told me I can paddle if I feel well enough that I think I can.

I got my first does a couple weeks ago.  I was very fatigued that afternoon and evening, but felt ok after that.  Arm was sore to move for a few days and sore to the touch for another few.

[The Latinist]

I feel like I really ought to get the zoster vaccine because the male members of my father’s family seem particularly predisposed to developing the shingles (my father and uncle each had it in their forties).  Sadly, I’m not sure anyone would recommend it for me yet.

[Friendly Angel]

I got my first does a couple weeks ago.  I was very fatigued that afternoon and evening, but felt ok after that.  Arm was sore to move for a few days and sore to the touch for another few.

Thank you for this perspective - if I get a shot on Saturday afternoon, I should be functional by Monday AM.  That's what I needed to know.  The pamphlet said "up to a week" for the fever and nausea.

[jt512]

I got my first does a couple weeks ago.  I was very fatigued that afternoon and evening, but felt ok after that.  Arm was sore to move for a few days and sore to the touch for another few.

Thank you for this perspective - if I get a shot on Saturday afternoon, I should be functional by Monday AM.  That's what I needed to know.  The pamphlet said "up to a week" for the fever and nausea.

My girlfriend got hers around the same time I did.  She didn't experience any fatigue but had a bit more arm pain than I did.  Nothing serious.  Of course YMMV.

[daniel1948]

I feel like I really ought to get the zoster vaccine because the male members of my father’s family seem particularly predisposed to developing the shingles (my father and uncle each had it in their forties).  Sadly, I’m not sure anyone would recommend it for me yet.

Why not? I thought it was recommended for everybody.

Okay, I see that healthy adults 50 and older should get it. Are you younger than 50? I'd imagine that if you told your doctor about your family history, she/he would recommend it.

[Friendly Angel]

OK, got shot #1 today at the grocery store pharmacy. 

They told me flu-like symptoms might be possible, so I'm planning on having to explain that it's not CoViD if I don't go to work tomorrow... and not really being sure that it isn't.

And a lot of the grocery shelves were empty - dry goods, paper goods, cleaning goods... but there wasn't any panic or lines.