Side Effects of Shingles Vaccine

The stories here are enlightening and though some are terrible, I feel better knowing I'm not the only person who has vertigo symptoms and has wondered if this was "awakened" by something like a vaccine. I had the shingles vaccine a long time ago, years before I was "allowed" to but lots of people around me were contracting the virus and I thought I should get the shot. Nothing strange happened but now I'm older and am being told I need this or that kind of vaccine, and I am very hesistant because of the vertigo I've had for the last 6 years that comes and goes. I already have and the tinnitus and hearing loss and assorted other things. I know shingles is awful. Should I get a vaccine or not? I don't know how to determine the correct answer for me. My doctor is a vaccine pusher and I am not sold.

You mention "lots of people were contracting the virus" . Of course, such individuals had Chicken Pox when they were young - 99% of people over a certain age have had chicken pox. It is a virus that stays in your body and Shingles is a reactivation of the Chicken Pox virus in the form of a painful rash. Your immune system weakens with age so it is easier for the virus to reactivate. That is why the new vaccine is recommended to older people and now covered by Medicare.
If you are having issues with vertigo, have you seen an ENT specialist? They are the ones to deal with that. I had issue and they discovered I had something called Third Window syndrome.
Regarding whether one should get or not get an approved vaccine, one needs to consider the risk of the illness against the risk of any potential side effect from a vaccine. For vast majority of people, the vaccine is the wise thing to do.
I got the Shingrix vaccine and only had a sore arm. I found hot bath to help that. My friend got shingles on the face over the eye and it was very painful and dangerous for the eye.

Thanks. I have seen doctors for the vertigo, but I will find a new one if the condition worsens. I appreciate your comments and will continue to weigh my options.

Two separate vaccines for Shingles. I received both kinds; the latest, Zingrix in 2 parts. All this business of reactions to vaccines is a crapshoot, because no one knows in advance if they're the exception to the one size fits all approach to mass vaccination. The best approach to this question is: Know your body, pay attention to what works

for you & what doesn't. Also, ask questions of a primary provide

a primary doc whom you trust. Lots of luck to find a doc you trust, but it is possible. Trust must be there, to partner with a provider who will help you develop an approach to self-care that works for you. I've worked all my 75 years to find 2-3 primary docs, 1 endocrinologist I trust._It takes patience & persistence, but you can do it._

I got my first Shingles vaccine 3 weeks ago and I've been in severe foot pain ever since then. I thought maybe it was from wearing sandles or something, but it's gone on too long and now I'm worried it'll never go away. Anyone else have this ? Anything we can do for it? Will it go away? It's not listed at all as a potential symptom from the vaccine. I'm not anti-vaccine, but this is really discouraging and I wish I never got the vaccine.

I just got my second dose on Monday evening. First 12hoursbi was great. I was ready to celebrate as my doctor reported I was going to be very sick and we were 24 hours away from being smacked by a hurricane and then 2:30 in the morning as I was finishing my hurricane prep out of nowhere I felt like I was hit by a truck. My whole body started hurting, a had chills so bad I felt as if I was convulsing, nauseous, and a headache so bad I felt like someone has cracked a bat over my head. Laid down woke up at seven and felt like I was dying and had a fever just shy of 103. Here it is now Thursday morning and still have body aches, chills, and nausea plus the massive headache. This is horrible

Welcome @susanthonen, I'm sorry you are dealing with the side effects of your second dose of the Shingles vaccine. I can't even imagine the difficulty while at the same time dealing with preparing for the hurricane. Hoping you might find something that helps from this article, that reviews the potential side effects the vaccine and how to ease symptoms, as well as, when to seek medical help.

--- Side Effects of the Second Dose of Shingrix (Shingles Vaccine): https://www.healthline.com/health/shingrix-side-effects-second-dose.

Have you taken any over the counter pain relievers to see if they help?

Yes, actually I took ibuprofen about two hours after receiving the injection. Then I felt okay so started preparing for the storm. When the symptoms started to kick in twelve hours later I started alternating Tylenol and ibuprofen every two hours. I have not had a fever in twenty four hours however I can’t kick this constant headache, still very achy and tired, and it feels like someone punched me in the arm very hard. I did have high stress levels as the hurricane was a Cat 4, and I did receive the flu vaccine at the same time. I am only 52 however have a very weak immune system do to Asthma and COPD so they had me get all vaccines and this was my last.