Nickratcatcher@beige.party
Jul 2, 2026, 6:36 PMHas anyone here been vaccinated against Shingles with the (fairly new) Shingrix vaccine?
Interested to hear about your experience.
Replies
Kim Possible :kimoji_fire:kimlockhartga@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 6:38 PMI had the two shot regimen of Shingrix.
First shot: not too bad.
2nd shot: Release the hounds!- Nickratcatcher@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 6:40 PM
- Kim Possible :kimoji_fire:kimlockhartga@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 6:44 PM
@ratcatcher That second shot gave me terrible pain in my entire body. Apparently, I'm on the extreme end. For some people, very mild side effects, but I think the majority really went through it with the second shot. It has a reputation. I would arrange to take off work a couple days to allow yourself to recover after the second one. Still better than getting Shingles (again) plus potential added benefit: msy reduce chance of dementia.
- Nickratcatcher@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 6:46 PM
Thanks. Yes, I'd heard about the possible dementia protection though it's probably too early to know if that will be a proven benefit.
- Kim Possible :kimoji_fire:kimlockhartga@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 6:55 PM
@ratcatcher I will be happy if the protection even turns out to be 20% instead of 40%.
Ted Luddtidmarsh@heads.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:28 PMI had the 2-dose regimen a few years ago. I don’t usually react to vaccines, but did had some flu-ish symptoms after both shots, and a little worse after the second, if I recall correctly. Nothing debilitating, but felt pretty crummy. Would absolutely do it again, tho.
Lynn DLynnD@cosocial.caJul 2, 2026, 9:51 PM@kimlockhartga yes, both shots. First shot was a kick in the butt for a couple of days. The second one was not too bad. A bit of lethargy for a day. My arm was really sore for a couple of days after both shots. Otherwise, nothing, and the way I look at it; it’s a really small price to pay to avoid getting the Shingles. Also research says that it also as some effect in preventing dementia, so an even bigger bonus!
Paul_IPv6paul_ipv6@infosec.exchangeJul 2, 2026, 6:48 PMgot the two dose this spring. other than the usual physical arm pain, the first dose was uneventful, second dose was a day of equiv of mild flu or medium hangover.
got the first dose w covid mRNA and no biggie for either.
Karen ConlinGramrgednAngel@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 6:59 PM@ratcatcher I had it.
Arm soreness both times, not surprised.
After the second, definitely felt "flu-like symptoms" of body aches, very tired.
Still better than suffering from the disease. Watched my dad go through that more than once. The second I was able to get the vax, I got it.
Your Autistic Life :PanPride:yourautisticlife@mast.yourautisticlife.comJul 2, 2026, 7:28 PMDid they reformulate it?
I got Shingrix... it must have been in 2021 (or maybe 2022). This is the vaccine that caused me the worst side-effects. It was like being Charlie Horsed really hard at the injection site, which I recall as the butt cheek. That was for both shots.
- Nickratcatcher@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 7:31 PM
I thought it was fairly new but maybe Ireland has started using it more recently.
- Your Autistic Life :PanPride:yourautisticlife@mast.yourautisticlife.comJul 2, 2026, 7:54 PM
I checked my vaccination records. I got it in 2021. My butt cheek recollection is probably wrong, however. The recommended injection site is the deltoid muscle.
They had to revaccinate me for everything after my stem cell transplant (cancer treatment). I got Shingrix before the recommended age because I had a case of the shingles during my chemotherapy. Fun times!
winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:30 PM@ratcatcher hmm. i had it a few years ago, and had a terrible fever with whole-body tremors and sweats. i had a crazy feverish dream too. here is what i wrote down when i woke at 3am, cause i had to preserve the moment:
The Nothwithstanding Clause
or:eerie happenings in old alexandria
[WESTERN_UNION]
[WIRELES DESPATCH]
Dear friends and colleagues,i am writing to say that something equally remarkable and sinister has happened!
today i received a new medical
1/1- winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:31 PM
@ratcatcher a vac-sternation against shingless, a new zootropical STD able to pass from pink to yeti rather easily.
then, this very evening i fell into the throws of a terrible ague!
(these vac-sternations are an experience worse than having one's humours bled or maggots applied to a putrefacting sword wound, and combined with other whoreable side effects such as conspiracy belief and a sense of dread and worry over their untested scienceomorphic of state)in this feverish hour, a vision
2/? - winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:31 PM
@ratcatcher of a green grim reaper came to me!!! an hideous fellow, but differing in some regards to tales related by other, false claimants of vision-sight. my fellow had a superior tailor, his forest green triangular hat was immaculately pressed, his beige sackcloth tunic fell loosely in carefully curated folds. but more disturbingly this devil was moon-faced with two dark, vertical slits for eyeholes, and a dastardly sly grin upon his pale visage! who knows what evil schemes were
3/?
Roknrolroknrol@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 7:32 PM@ratcatcher I believe mine was Shingrix last summer/fall.
The first injection, aside from a sore arm, was fine. No problems at all.
The second one made me throw up every time I ate for like three days, but then I was fine.
- winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:32 PM
@ratcatcher rattling around in his thought box? had he come for me? or someone dear?
suddenly, i awoke. i am, however, not concerned overmuch for my own safety.
you see friends, after several decades of scatological study and an inadvertent pursuit of slack, i have found out i will likely be ordained into the church of the subgenious within a fortnight, or at the latest before the new year, that of our lord JR Bob Dobbs 77 AD( After Dobbs, GIVE OR TAKE). crucially, i have delayed paying
4/? - winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:33 PM
@ratcatcher my final dues payment in the hopes of a repeat of the slack-friday 241 sales of yesteryear. our living Dobbs has commanded slack, and his words prevent me from paying full fare for a trip to salvationTM!
the outcome of the incredible news of my imminent ordination is that surely, surely if i pursue slack with all the zeal and vigour that has been instilled in me by the rev ivan stangg, and the good folk at the church, then the Stark Fist of Removal will descend from
5/7? - winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:33 PM
@ratcatcher from JR Bob Dobbs otherworldly typewriter to pulverize this green grim reaper demon into cosmic dust, and cast him back from whence he came!
in closing, letters from me may not reach you in as timely a fashion for the foreseeable future. my research paddle boat the HMS STEAMPUNK leaves cairo tomorrow to begin our trip to find the mysterious headwaterz of the mighty Nile, whose details are not known even in our modern day! i will INcommit to this mission with all the slack i can
6/8 - winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:34 PM
@ratcatcher muster, and with aplentiful supply of the required provisions such as mimosas and laudanum. i also took the libidinous, strike that, prudent precaution of hiring several muscular bravoes for security and companionship. they each cut a handsome figure lounging on the prow of the paddleboat, prone as they are to wearing little more than a lion clout for clothing in the tropical heat.
8/9
- winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:35 PM
@ratcatcher i digress. in light of these preparations-H, i am not worried about the future and my grim, green visitor.
yours truly,
winston smith
ps- please tell my darling wife and beautiful children i lov
[END CORROSPONDANCE]
[END TRANSMITTAL] - winstonsmithwinst0nsmith@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 7:39 PM
@ratcatcher but, uh, hey...don't let me dissuade you. i happened to have shingles in my 40's and so was deserate for that shot as soon as i became eligible. worth it...
Death to the DictatorElonsMom@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 8:23 PM@ratcatcher I had it as soon as it was available and don’t recall any adverse reaction, unlike when I actually had shingles, which you definitely don’t want!
🕯️Curious Magpie🕯️CuriousMagpie@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 9:49 PM@ratcatcher yes, I had both doses of shingrix in 2023. Like most of the answers I had arm pain for longer than usual with vaccinations. Unlike most people, the first dose is when I had the flu like symptoms and the second dose wasn't as intense.
tlarivtlariv@hachyderm.ioJul 2, 2026, 9:49 PM@ratcatcher
Yes, no drama. But I haven't had much of a response to any vaccinations.
somcaksomcak@beige.partyJul 2, 2026, 9:49 PM@ratcatcher I had the first one in March and the next day I felt like I had fallen and broken my arm. And mentally I couldn't even drive into work as that took too much brain power. And my body, aside from my arm, felt like I had the flu. I had the first one with the pneumonia vaccine.
The second dose I was expecting that again, but I just had the feeling of having a broken arm, no other symptoms. I had the second one with the RSV vaccine. The RSV vaccine left a big knot in my arm that took about 4 weeks to disappear.
Greg JohnstonGPJohnston@mastodon.socialJul 2, 2026, 10:20 PM@ratcatcher yeah, felt a little shitty the next day but not too bad. I generally tolerate vaccines well. And get every one I should get.
PhilSalkiePhilSalkie@mindly.socialJul 2, 2026, 10:46 PM@ratcatcher
Yes, first one sore arm, second was naprosyn plus single malt plus early bedtime
stevenraystevenray@sfba.socialJul 2, 2026, 10:52 PM@ratcatcher yep, had it. Some injection site pain and swelling is what I remember.
I can't recommend this vaccine enough, cuz
in 2021, the virus which causes Shingles attacked my facial nerve and completely paralyzed the left side of my face for seven months. This is called Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. After a four-day hospital stay with strong antiviral drugs, I went home and then gave myself the same drugs intravenously for ten days, because I had to. That killed the virus.
Because I was 59, my facial nerve didn't completely recover, so I'm left with some mild paralysis.
I certainly would have gotten the vaccine beforehand had I known about it.
Please get it.
Stewart Russellscruss@xoxo.zoneJul 2, 2026, 11:14 PM@ratcatcher had the double shingrix shot about six years ago. Charlie horse for a couple of days in the affected arm.
Nothing compared to my late great aunt who had shingles all down her back. When it flared (at least once a year) she would shriek if her blouse even touched the affected area. So get the shots and like them, because you don't want the alternative
FrankVWDasher@mymasto.comJul 2, 2026, 11:28 PM@ratcatcher I've had it twice now, five years apart. And other than a bit of sore arm, that was it.
I've also had Shingles, which made me feel like I was on fire. Get the shot.
Alex :v_agender:AncTreat5358@lgbtqia.spaceJul 2, 2026, 11:35 PM@ratcatcher Yes, I did a couple years ago. It wasn't too bad; the two dosages each knocked me out for only a few days. But it beats the alternative of shingles!
Rev. Dr. Mazigazimazigazi@dobbs.townJul 2, 2026, 11:41 PM@ratcatcher got mine. Felt no worse than a flu shot. No problem at all
Pastor of Muppetsmiddleclasstool@phire.placeJul 2, 2026, 11:49 PM@ratcatcher @kimlockhartga Did it last fall. First one packed a wallop for me. Second one wasn't as bad. They say you usually only have a strong reaction to one, but it's impossible to know which one. Recommend that you schedule them for when you have a day or two off following, if possible. Definitely recommend that you do it. I know people who have gotten shingles, and you don't want it.
Pomegranate_Stewpomegranate_stew@kind.socialJul 2, 2026, 11:53 PM@ratcatcher
I got it with the Covid and flu vax and actually felt better than when I got the first two Covid vax. Second one by itself was fine as well. But everyone’s different, so ymmv.
I.M. BonettibonettiJul 2, 2026, 11:54 PM@ratcatcher I had the two shot Shingrix a few years ago. First shot: nothing notable (basically comparable to DTP/flu/covid booster). Second shot: holy cow, it was like actually being sick (fever, headache, significant fatigue) for about 24 hours, starting a few hours after the shot. I would plan on being as nonfunctioning as one is with a cold for the following day, maybe two.
From what I've seen of people suffering from shingles, it was worth that to avoid shingles later.
- I.M. BonettibonettiJul 2, 2026, 11:54 PM
@ratcatcher I will add that no other vaccination has ever affected me like that.
Lori M Olsonlorimolson@mstdn.caJul 2, 2026, 11:54 PM@ratcatcher yes. Other than FLATTENED with fatigue, I was fine.
Of course the pharmacist threw it in on top of 4 other vaccines I was getting for travelling in Africa, so… YMMV.
Bob Tregiluselaterite@mastoart.socialJul 3, 2026, 12:07 AM@ratcatcher Everything is fine. I got both shots, no problem other than a sore arm for a day or so.
Vickie Gray 🍁graymattergrcltd@infosec.exchangeJul 3, 2026, 12:11 AM@ratcatcher yep. Two years ago if that’s the latest. Thank science for that because shingles made me almost lose my mind.
Cherizillacherizilla@hypertext.monsterJul 3, 2026, 12:22 AM@ratcatcher My husband had 2-3 days of flu-like symptoms after each dose. It's different for every person, though.
Jul 3, 2026, 1:21 AM@cherizilla @ratcatcher My wife and I both had a very similar reaction (flu, few days). But based on stories we heard about people's experiences with Shingles, I'd say it was an easy choice!
Fredsdead123johnjones@mastodon.socialJul 3, 2026, 12:47 AM@ratcatcher
My grandmother got shingles in her nineties, and said it was the worst thing she lived through.
I got vaccinated in the middle of covid along with the Covid vaccine. Like a lot of these folks, absolutely no reaction worth remembering.
Stylusstylus@social.afront.orgJul 3, 2026, 2:37 AM@ratcatcher @PurpleJillybeans 36 hours of fatigue each time. 9/25 and 12/25 shingrix.