My mom got the second Shingrix and flu shots the same day at Walgreens, a big mistake, but had never had an adverse vaccine reaction. She was definitely diagnosed with PMR and had the temporal biopsy (?) to test for GCA. She never had PMR or any immune issues before that, but her SED and C Reactive Protein levels were out of control by the time she made it to the doctor for blood work. Within 3 or 4 days of the vaccine, she was immobile (tears trying to get out of bed to shuffle to the bathroom) and in excruciating pain, joints all over her body (not just shoulders and hips) and could not even lift a glass of water to drink it. She developed difficulty breathing and swallowing and had low pulse oxygen. I don't think the ordinary vaccine side effects are anything like that and it seems that her response was rare, but not unheard of. Still the rheumatologist did not believe it was related to the vaccines, but we are not at all convinced. She had been going to the gym and taking daily walks. This was a radical change. I don't know that I would avoid the Shingrix because of this, but I just never want her to go through anything like that again (a flare-up of PMR), hence the question.

Yes I was officially diagnosed with PMR. Whether to get the 2nd Shingrix shot is a tough call. In hind sight I had a bad reaction to the 1st shingrix shot but resolved in 2-3 days. I was unaware of the PMR risk or I would of not taken it or delayed it (had second shot 2 months after 1st and can wait 6 months) My side effects from the COViD 19 shots were minimal (and I was concerned for a flare). Good luck with whatever you decide