Swelling from the Shingles Vaccine

[canyonwalker]

Monday I got two vaccine shots. Not, not the Coronavirus vaccine— I got those months ago. These were the shingles vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine.

"I got all the vaccines when I was a kid," you might think. That may be true; there are a bunch of vaccines recommended in early childhood. I got all the standard childhood vaccines, too. But there are various additional vaccines and boosters recommended for adults. See the CDC's Vaccine Information for Adults plus additional Recommended Vaccines for Adults based on age and risk factors. The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50+. That's me, now.

Sometimes vaccines cause side effects. With the Coronavirus vaccines mild body aches and sleepiness within a 24 hour period were common. When I got the booster 3rd shot I had swelling around the injection site. A similar thing has happened this week after the shingles vaccine jab.

I've got a bruise on my arm around the injection site. It's about 3 inches across, discolored, and slightly swollen. At the moment I'm deeming this to be within the range of normal side effects, though I've sent a message (including this picture) to my doctor asking her opinion on whether I should continue toughing it out or seek clinical attention.

BTW, for any who point to side effects like this as a reason to avoid vaccines: I would much rather have a 100% chance of a bruise like this that goes away in a few days than a 1-in-3 chance (CDC info page) of getting shingles.

UPDATE: My doctor's clinic replied to my text message with a link to the CDC's page, "What you can expect after getting Shingrix" (Shingrix is the brand name of the vaccine). Front and center is a picture of swelling around an injection site that looks very similar to the picture I sent. I don't know if they intended that response to be mildly humorous, but it was to me.

Comments

[sorcyress]

I've never had shingles but my mother has (a few times?) and based on observing her experience I can strongly vouch for your last sentence. Shingles blows, even if it's a relatively "mild" case that just causes lots of awful skin and itching.

~Sor

[some_other_dave]

The shingles one knocked me out for the next day. I pretty much just napped the whole day.

[canyonwalker]

I learned from my own reading on shingles that the vaccine is a 2-dose regimen. The doctor and her nurse didn't mention that. Have you gotten your second shot? Were the side effects milder or worse? While my reaction to the first shot has just been swelling, if there's a chance I'm going to be knocked out for a day I'll plan the shot for when I can take time off from work.

[some_other_dave]

I think it was the first one that did that. I do know that the other dose was a non-event, except for some soreness.

[canyonwalker]

Update: see note in main entry