I have heard it hurts more than the other, but wondered if anyone can confirm this.
I have a meet and greet appointment with my new GP doctor in a couple of weeks and I was going to ask about getting it. I am somewhat of a needlephobe, so I wanted to prepare myself, if it was going to be worse than just a regular stick.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

I had the first dose about 8-10 weeks ago and did not notice any more or less discomfort than with the old vaccine. I'm due for the second shot, but it is not available locally at present. Fortunately, there is a 3-4 month window to get the follow up injection. Go for it.

I haven’t had the shots yet, but I investigated my Medicare coverage for them last week. IIRC, Medicare pays 30%, which worked out to be about $50 responsibility for me. This is what it will cost if I get the shots at my pharmacy, because the coverage is provided by my Medicare prescription policy. I’m not sure what the coverage would be if I asked for the shots in a clinic. I plan to go ahead anyway because I understand that they are very effective against what can be a very painful condition.

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I have heard that the vaccine was in short supply right now, so that may play into when I actually get mine. I am now with Kaiser, and I have no idea how it works with getting vaccines, as far as where and how much they pay. I guess I will find out on the 25th.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

My GP gave me shot #1, mentioned that some people had headaches, a sorer-than-normal injection site, etc.

I didn't have any of that. Felt no different than a tetanus booster. I'm not worried about dose #2.

I had shot #1 in April. This post on the forum details my experience. I realize that there's no active virus in the new vaccine, but there's no doubt I got shingles for the first time days after the injection. My case has been reported.

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My Dad..who is early 90's got it the other day and he said he felt @#$%& for the rest of the day..said it was a very messed up feeling and had to go home and lay down to wait it out. haven't heard anything after that..

I'm due for my second dose beginning August 4. No issues with the first dose but my wife said her arm was sore for days longer than the three days until I could not feel anything from the injection site. I suggested she get the second dose in one of her butt cheeks.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

I found it to be on the same level of soreness as a tetanus shot.

I have now had the new vaccine, the old vaccine, and prior to all that a case of shingles. Not sure why my doctor keeps jabbing me, I thought that having a case of it was enough to stave it off from now on?

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Shingles is not one and done. Chances of a recurrence are the same as getting it in the first place - about one in three. [www.health.harvard.edu]

I can assure you, shingles are FAR FAR FAR worse than 2 needle sticks.

I am somewhat of a needlephobe

I'm right there with you, sister, except maybe for the 'somewhat' part.

I don't like 'em. At all.

When I went into the service, there were lots of needles and I just didn't look. No fainting, at least on my part, but there was queasy. Later the gun was used. I like that, quick with about the same pain level, but no freakin' needle. Some guys did flinch and the gun cut a little swath in their arm.


I found it to be on the same level of soreness as a tetanus shot.

That's um... Disappointing. Tetanus shots have always near put my arm OOS for the better part of two days, and sore for three more. I never like them.

My flu vaccine shot this year was imperceptible. The nurse grabbed some skin, and maybe pinched it a little. That's all I felt, not the stick at all.

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Thanks for all the info, I appreciate it.
And as far as the “somewhat” of a needlephobe, I was trying to sound brave. I hate needles, a lot.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2018 06:35AM by rgG.

After having endured shingles which presented itself in the temporal nerves ( approximately from just below the inner ear, across the eyebrow and up over the top of the skull ) over the course of close to three weeks I usually highly recommend anyone get the shot(s). Especially if you have no or low tolerance for pain (ie stinging, stabbing burning neuropathic pain ).

If you're looking for excuses, the shot is no guarantee you won't have to endure an episode of shingles,but documented odds are in alleviation's favor. You might also be one of the lucky ones who have a reaction of some sort to the shot, including but not limited to actually triggering the shingles. Again, odds.


Shingles won't kill you despite the contrarian fear-mongering hype but you certainly wouldn't want to add the complication on top of any life threatening conditions you might already be enduring and there is some evidence that points to shingles being triggered by physiological stress. It's one thing to endure shingles when you are healthy another when you are not. And "you are not" could be something as simple as fighting the simple cold virus and the double whammy complicating into pneumonia.

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