Don't be surprised if the site of the injection is red, warm, sore and swollen for a few days. It took me about 10 days for my arm to get back to normal. It was worth the temporary reaction to me, I have seen bad cases of shingles.

If you are concerned, call your doctor.

Absolutely! Going to look into a booster this fall. I've had shingles twice in my life and do NOT want them again!

I got mine last year and convinced my DH to get one as well.

It just started to feel like I was hearing more people suffering from shingles.

A gym friend was out for months. She was scheduled for the shot and got shingles before her appointment. She had a rough case.

I had one in February. My arm was red for at least two weeks but no other issues.

I don't remember when I did get the vaccine. It's been several years now.

I got mine a while back, don't remember any soreness or anything.

There is a new vaccine being tested, and last I heard, was maybe a year from approval. It looks very promising, and much more effective than the current one. So I plan on getting the new one when it comes out, even tho I had the old one a few years ago (and a case of the shingles a year after that.)

Like sushipup1, I also got shingles although I had the vaccine. I think it helped in that I did not break out in the horrid rash, but painful ear and forehead. OTC allergy meds helped. I did have something on my eye for a few days but it disappeared with prescription eye drops. I still have an itchy eyelid, but it's not something that bothers too much.

I've had shingles 3 times since January. Luckily I get a milder case than most I've heard about. I was getting a breakout every 4 weeks or so. I started taking a lysine supplement and so far it's kept it at bay. I have had horrible reactions to vaccines so I've been hesitant to go that route.

I got mine 5yrs ago at the doctor's office. Insurance fully covered it if given at the doctor's office but not at a pharmacy

There is a new vaccine being tested, and last I heard, was maybe a year from approval.

Thank you for that information, sushipup; will have to check into it's progress. My doctor won't let me get a shot yet, but it will be approved in a few years. My mother and uncle had horrible, long-lasting cases of shingles, so I'm eager to avoid a breakout.

Just wait until it turns a nice shade of red and gets itchier than a mosquito bite. This was mine a day or two after I got mine a few years agohttps://www.flickr.com/photos/debby_ab/16744746124/in/dateposted/

And another photo and why I got it done: https://www.flickr.com/photos/debby_ab/17329019806/in/photostream/

Thanks for the reminder, I still haven't had mine. DH got one a couple of years ago and had no reaction at all. He mentioned it to his doctor during a physical and the nurse came in and poked him before he left ;0) She gave him the pneumovax23 again too since he'd had a first one while in his early 50's. They said because given at a young age it should be repeated.

I don't believe there's a booster shot at this time. Here's a good Q&A about shingles and the vaccine:

http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_zos.asp

I'll be interested in how you do. Doc is encouraging me to get one, but I'm still a nervous nellie. Maybe I should wait til the new one comes out...

We got ours on 60th birthdays. Cost was $0 for vaccine, copay for office visit. I must not have had any reaction since I can't remember which arm received it.

Debby that's quite a reaction! My friend got hers and had no reaction.

I just looked at mine and was surprised it is red. But no pain or anything at all.

I got one 2 years ago. Had a little rash but no itching or pain.

My 80 year old mother got shingles 2 months ago and has been miserable ever since. She refuses to get vaccines for anything. :(

We got our shingles shots last year and luckily neither of us had any reaction. We also got out pneumonia shots and we get our flu shots every year with no reactions to either.

Annie, don't be nervous. It's easy peasy.

DH and I had our vaccinations in 2009 -- zero problems. I had mild shingles in 2006; probably mild because I was diagnosed early and started on anti-herpes meds within a 72-hour 'window'.

Please remember to get a second pneumonia vaccine (Prevnar), to protect against more varieties than the earlier vaccine you probably got long ago.

I got mine when they first came out. Need to get a Prevnar shot, too.

I'll pass on all shots. I don't like needles and refuse to have something injected in me that I don't know what the reaction will be. The only way I'll get a shot is when I'm in so much pain I have no choice.. Twice my DH got a flu shot and twice he ended up with a cough so bad he passes out. I'm almost 66 and so far I'm doing ok.

I got mine Tuesday and have had no reaction at all. In Ontario the shot is free if you are under 70 years old. I will be 70 on Monday.

I got the shot about 3 years ago, and have been dealing with shingles for the last month. My sister-in-law got the shot several years ago, and she is currently dealing with her second case of shingles. My doctor said it's probably not as severe as it would have been, if I hadn't had the shot.

Its not free here, its usually $200. + Thats why I waited so long.

Yayagal, it's not the shot I'm afraid of, but the reaction. I was out for lunch with GF when a friend of hers came up to say hello. He said it was the first day in 6 months that he was able to get dressed and get out of the house. His reaction to the shingles shot was that bad and he'd been through all kinds of pain and suffering from it, including serious immunosuppressors they put him on. I sure wouldn't want that to be me!

I think something else might have been going on. I have had no problem at all.

Just got mine today. Easy peasy, no pain shot. We'll see whether it get sore and red over the next few days, but several hours after the shot no pain, itching, or swelling.

A lot better than a tetanus shot!

I got one a couple weeks ago. My insurance doesn't cover it. I checked the pharmacy at the clinic I go to and at Walmart. No intention of going to WM if it was close in price at the clinic. The clinic was actually cheaper than WM! Only $4 but I'd rather have it in my pocket than the Waltons. And this way it's in the medical records, where it wouldn't be if I had it done elsewhere. Although I'm annoyed that insurance doesn't at least kick in on it, the $229 cost isn't going to break me and if it does help, then it's worth it. I've had enough pain and troubles in recent years, I'll take the gamble that it's beneficial.

They gave it in the underside of the arm so it's not visible to me but there was no soreness, stiffness or anything like that for me. They required me to stay there for at least 10-15 min to see if there was a reaction. No problem, off I went.

Many people don't understand that the shingles vaccine DOES NOT PREVENT SHINGLES! It DOES make the symptoms a lot lighter and the outbreak much more livable. And most people don't understand that flu shots were about 10% effective last year. The most they've done in the years I've seen is up to about 40%, and the older you are, the less effective they are. When you get past 60 or 65 you need a much higher dose from what I've read. That's why I didn't bother with a flu shot for most of my life.

I used to avoid shots all the time. And had no problems. After I was living in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes so much for a few years I figured it would be a good idea to get a flu shot especially since I wouldn't have to pay for it. Hadn't had the flu in 30 years before the first flu shot and I had a severe reaction to the shot and got the flu twice in the year following it. No problems since. I do get the recommended vaccines now that I'm an old f@rt. To me, it's silly not to. To each their own.