# I'm getting my second shingles shot this week. What should I expect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2021, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592 "2021-12-06T22:47:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/61 "2021-12-11T18:29:25Z")
I had my second Shingrix shot Thursday afternoon. They said to expect more severe side effects than from the first, but that they’d be over within 48 hours. I’ve been a little tired, and my arm is sore, but nothing debilitating. The arm soreness is definitely a little worse than it was from my COVID booster a week ago. Does anyone know whether that reflects anything about the respective chemical contents of the vaccines? The relative thickness of the needles? The technique of the person who administered it? ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/62 "2021-12-11T18:32:47Z")
My shingles shots my arm hurt more than my Moderna shots or booster. All five plus flu were done by the same person who always seemed to be in a good mood. I know this isn’t an answer, but it is one small data point. I used to know a doctor who was a horrible shot giver, his nurse could use the same needle and dose to give you a shot so slickly you didn’t even notice the stick. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/63 "2021-12-11T19:04:00Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > My shingles shots my arm hurt more than my Moderna shots or booster. Yeah, same for me. I had reactions to all as well, but, again, the Shingrex reactions were stronger and lasted longer. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/64 "2021-12-11T21:10:22Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > My shingles shots my arm hurt more than my Moderna shots or booster. My tetanus shot went in one arm and the shingles and flu shots in the other, all within a couple minutes. The tetanus arm hurt for a couple of days. But I hear I should prepare for a response to the second shingles shot. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/65 "2022-04-21T03:18:41Z")
Just got the second shot this evening. My arm is very sore, and I’m going to bed early. Glad i thought to give them the side i mostly don’t sleep on. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/66 "2022-04-21T03:27:05Z")
Good on you for getting it done. I understand that some minor suffering for a few days (for most people, my suffering was much more serious!!!) is better than the weeks long living hell then a dose of shingles usually is. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/67 "2022-04-21T11:31:48Z")
There’s a newer thread on the same topic: > [@Shingles vax](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vax/962730): > > I got my second shot yesterday and, man, is my arm sore. I also feel like crap today but am not sure if its a direct result of the shot or the fact that last night was the first on a memory foam topper. My arm hurt too much to do my usual adjusting so I slept (or tried too) at attention .Plus, that foam stuff is hot. I think she’s sending it back and canceling an order for a Nector mattress. Anyone with experience on one of those? Replacing a waterbed mattress, FWIW. Evidently, its too gross af… May as well keep the current commentary together, so I’ll close this one. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-my-second-shingles-shot-this-week-what-should-i-expect/955592/68 "2022-04-21T11:32:03Z")
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