Shingles and Flu Shot

Hi Merry Juliana,

Is it possible, for those of us with a lowered immunity, that the flu jab might temporarily further reduce our immunity and give occasion for the shingles virus to assert itself?

I've never had a flu jab, even though I'm regarded as 'higher-risk' because of athsma, as I tend to have an adverse reaction to inoculations etc. The only time I've ever had flu was mid-summer a few years ago, so not the usual winter flu.

Best wishes,

?David 

Dear David,

The influenza vaccine is a killed virus, and as such, cannot cause Shingles. Anyone who is immunocompromised should discuss the pros and cons with their Physician. I believe you fall in that category. As you are a higher risk with reactions, I would obsessively practice excellent hand washing in public, use paper towels to open doors and shut faucets in public places, wipe shopping carts with sanitizer wipes, etc. I have avoided colds and flu, and thus severe asthma/ bronchitis/pneumonia by strictly adhering to these practices.

I also had the Pneumovax and Prevnar vaccines to prevent pneumonia. These vaccines have helped markedly in decreasing the asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia episodes to maybe one asthma flare every 2-3 years. Before, I was classified as a moderate-severe asthmatic on inhaled ADVAIR 2x daily.

While the influenza vaccine is not perfect, it also attenuates the severity of the disease, should you contract the disease. Influenza is a killer, not just an annoyance. I have had two close friend's young relatives (age 7 and 32 years) die of pneumonia within three days of contracting influenza within the last three years. They had not had the flu vaccine.

There is no doubt that added stress can trigger Herpes Zoster-Shingles, but I don't think the vaccine as added stress. It is actually increasing your immune system's response to fight the flu.

BTW, the high Lysine low Arginine diet has helped me avoid severe recurrent episodes of Herpes Zoster-Shingles the last 6-8 months. I do not take any Lysine supplements. I do take Vitamin D3 as my level was 16, (very low) and a Multi vitamin containing Lutein to help avoid macular degeneration.

I am aware of your extra issues.

I hope everything is going smoothly in that department.

My family and I are remaining happy and healthy as winter approaches.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

I've been told by a half dozen medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists who all insist that the flu shot cannot possibly cause singles.

This is what I know:

- I had chickenpox as a kid.

- I had never had shingles before.

- At age 62 and just 3 hrs after getting a flu shot, I had my first and only outbreak of shingles.

- I stopped getting flu shots.

- I have never had shingles since then.

That's some coincidence.

My guess is, those of us reporting a connection are not even being reported or counted in the stats because it's "impossible" that a causual relationship exists. There's no reason to report it if it's impossible to occur in the first place.

My personal belief is, there's enough money wrapped up in convincing older adults to get flu shots, that it's in the industry's interest to discount the possibility, to which I reply - BS.

Start counting.

I agree with you. I never got a flu shot ... this year because I’m 62 I decided late in the season to get a flu shot. A week later ... here Inam with shingles! Please let me know how long you had shingles. I’m up to a week and fear it will be a long ride. 

I agree, but who is to say your immune system isnt regressed from the flu shot in a manner to have the shingles virus activate.

My mom is on week 5 (started a few days after flu shot)

My husband also got the Shingles after getting the flu shot.

What about a 12 year old that never had the chicken pox but did get the vaccine? My son received the Flu Mist vaccine a few weeks ago and a few days later had the shingles. Two people had to look at him because they were shocked!! I felt so bad for my son!

I searched this topic and have found this discussion - because I am also debating on whether to try skipping my flu shot this year. I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroiditis) and have had it since quite young which I believe is less common.

I got a flu shot for the first time ever, 8 years ago when I was 36 years old.

I became quite ill within I think about 2 weeks - with shingles - for the first time. At the time, I didn't connect this to the flu vaccination I'd had and put it down to stress. Although very out of the blue for me at that time and it is unusual at my age apparently.

Its only recently, considering and researching the new Covid vaccines and auto-immune patients - that I realised, I have continued to get shingles (varying degrees, not always as bad) - ever since, probably once a year - and this is always within 3 or so months after getting the flu vaccination, which I have also continued getting.

Personally, yes, I have decided that this year - I am not going to have the flu shot. And I will see what happens.

I don't care for any theories that the flu shot cannot possibly be the cause because it is an inactive virus. This is just theory. Like others have said, it's all a bit of a coincidence and for me, this is worth looking into. As I understand it, everyone's immune system can be slightly different in how they respond. So I will see if this works for me.

Thanks to all for sharing on here. It is helpful...

Same thing happened to my husband.

I am happy to report that I got the flu shot a couple of weeks and am shingles free!

Hi Michaela,

This discussion comes up during the influenza vaccine season.

Scientific studies have shown that getting the flu shot does not trigger Shingles.

There is going to be a certain percentage of individuals who happen get Shingles around the same time, but remember, the varicella virus was probably activated 2 weeks before you even had the flu shot (the pre-eruptive phase. )

I am not trying to marginalize anyone who is concerned about this phenomenon, by any means. One has to weigh the risks of the flu vs the risk of a not so effective flu vaccine, that does weaken the influenza strain individuals do get.

I choose to get the flu vaccine, and have had the Pneumovax and Prevnar vaccines.

Sadly, I know of two young family friends who died of pneumonia within 60 hours of onset of getting the flu. They were a sweet 7 year old girl and sweet 32 year old mother of two.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

Sorry, not buying the "coincidence" explanation. Clearly there IS a connection between getting a flu shot and developing shingles. No one is saying the flu vaccine itself directly gives you shingles. We're saying that it causes your immune system to weaken as antibodies are focused on protecting your body from the flu virus (even though it is inactivated!) and thus it provides an opening for the dormant herpes zoster virus to awaken and thus cause a shingles outbreak. THAT is the connection between the flu shot and an outbreak of shingles and there is NO medical evidence to the contrary. In fact, it has been proven that a weakened immune system definitely DOES increase your odds of getting shingles. And the introduction of the flu virus (even though it is no longer alive!) via a flu shot DEFINITELY temporarily weakens your immune system against fighting off other viruses -- such as the dormant herpes zoster virus. So there IS a connection between getting a flu shot and then developing shingles soon after. It is NOT simply "coincidence". Having said that, it is still important to get a flu shot because the flu can be deadly. What we need to do is figure out how to bolster our immune system while it's busy building defenses against an invasion of a live flu virus in the future. That will decrease the odds of a dormant herpes zoster virus from producing an outbreak of shingles until our immune system is back to full strength.

Agree, the flu can be a very risky business and even if I knew that I was going to get shingles after it, i would still have the shot. You cannot overlook the fact that so many of us have had this happen or have this in common. Research includes gathering this type of evidence otherwise why have they even studied that it doesnt trigger shingles....must have been other incidences. it is very interesting and really surprised me. I am a certified immunization nurse myself !

Me either. 3 years ago I had my first ever flu shot and ended up with my first ever case of shingles about 72 hours after.Up until my flu shot I hadn't gotten the flu in over 25 years. I know this because the last time I had the flu was before I was pregnant with my first child. Once I became pregnant, and on through the years after, I was obsessive about hand washing, wiping down surfaces with bleach wipes, etc. Never got the flu (still haven't, knock on wood). Given the fact that I hadn't gotten the flu for so many years, I don't know why I decided that year to get a flu shot. Probably because it was being hyped so much. Well, never again.There is NO WAY that the flu shot didn't compromise my immune system just enough to allow the shingles virus to appear.

At least someone that talks sense. I totally agree that the flu jab adds strain to your immune system.

I think all this shingles issue after the flu jab started when they produced different vaccine for under and over 65 year olds. For some people under 65 with weaker immune system a quadrivalent flu vaccine is a bit too much to deal with. I believe the trivalent one given to people over 65 is much better supported by the body.

I have asked the GP for a trivalent vaccine but I was refused and when I told him that I had shingles after 7-8 days since the vaccination, he told me he never heard about something like this!!