Shingrix (recombinant varicella zoster virus) is a brand-name vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to help prevent shingles, which is a condition that can occur from a viral infection called herpes zoster.

Shingles is a vaccine that’s given by your healthcare professional. It’s given as an intramuscular injection, typically in your upper arm. You only need to have two doses of the shingles vaccine to be fully vaccinated. So the injections aren’t received on a long-term basis, though they will continue working to help prevent shingles.

Here are some fast facts about Shingrix:

  • Active ingredient: recombinant varicella zoster virus, which is a biologic
  • Drug class: vaccine
  • Drug form: intramuscular injection
  • FDA approval year: 2017

As with other drugs, Shingrix can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Shingrix, including details about its uses, see this article.

The Shingrix vaccine can cause certain reactions and side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who received Shingrix in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Shingrix. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Shingrix’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Shingrix include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect after receiving Shingrix and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Shingrix may cause serious side effects. Although serious side effects aren’t common, they can occur. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Shingrix’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects after receiving Shingrix, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

A serious side effect reported with Shingrix is severe allergic reaction.†

† An allergic reaction is possible after receiving Shingrix. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

The Shingrix vaccine is a two-dose series, which means that you’ll receive one dose of the vaccine, and then a second dose between 1 and 6 months later. In many cases, you may experience similar side effects from both your first and second shot.

However, in clinical trials, after receiving the second dose of Shingrix, headache and shivering were reported more often. So after your second dose of Shingrix, you may be at a higher risk of these side effects occurring.

However, most side effects from Shingrix only lasted between 2 and 3 days before easing. So if you do experience side effects, they are typically short term.

If you have questions or concerns about the possibility of side effects occurring from your second shot of Shingrix, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Shingrix isn’t known to cause long-term side effects to occur. Side effects of Shingrix that were reported in clinical trials were short term. In fact, most side effects from this vaccine only lasted between 2 and 3 days before easing.

If you have concerns about long-term side effects from Shingrix, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Shingrix may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Shingrix.

Reaction at the injection site

You may experience a reaction at the injection site after getting your dose of Shingrix. An injection site reaction occurs in the area where you received your Shingrix dose. Since this vaccine is typically injected into the upper arm, this is where you may experience an injection site reaction.

Reactions at the injection site were commonly reported in clinical trials after getting a Shingrix vaccine. Examples of reactions at the injection site include:

  • discoloration
  • swelling
  • pain

What you can do

Reactions at the injection site are typically short term, and will often go away on their own. In fact, most side effects that people reported after a Shingrix vaccine eased within 2 to 3 days of receiving a Shingrix dose. The Shingrix side effects duration is typically short.

If you have a reaction at the injection site that looks severe or is bothersome to you, contact your doctor or pharmacist. They can evaluate the reaction and make sure that you’re not having an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Allergic reactions may also include other symptoms, such as skin rash, itching, or swelling of other areas of your body.

Your doctor can make sure that your reaction is an injection site reaction and may help recommend ways to manage it. For example, if you have pain at the injection site, they may recommend treatment with an over-the-counter (OTC) medication, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen).

Gastrointestinal side effects

It’s possible to experience gastrointestinal (stomach-related) side effects after receiving the Shingrix vaccine. Gastrointestinal symptoms were one of the most common side effects that people reported in clinical trials after getting the Shingrix vaccine.

Examples of gastrointestinal side effects that were commonly reported after receiving Shingrix include:

What you can do

If you notice gastrointestinal side effects after getting your dose of Shingrix, talk with your doctor. Depending on what side effect you’re experiencing, they may be able to recommend ways to help manage your side effects. For example, if you’re having diarrhea, they may recommend staying hydrated and taking an OTC medication such as Imodium (loperamide).

In addition, most side effects that people reported from Shingrix were short term, and only lasted between 2 and 3 days.

Headache

You may experience a headache after receiving your Shingrix vaccination. Headaches were one of the most common side effects that people getting the Shingrix vaccine reported in clinical trials.

Headaches occurred more commonly after receiving the second dose of Shingrix than the first dose. However, it’s possible to experience headaches after either dose of the vaccine.

What you can do

In most cases, side effects after the Shingrix vaccine were short term. In fact, side effects typically lasted between 2 and 3 days before resolving.

However, if you have headaches that are severe or bothersome to you after receiving a dose of Shingrix, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend taking an OTC pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) to manage your headaches.

Muscle pain

You may have muscle pain after receiving your dose of Shingrix. In fact, muscle pain was one of the most common side effects that people receiving the Shingrix vaccine reported in clinical trials.

Muscle pain can occur because of the administration of Shingrix. This vaccine is given as an intramuscular injection, which means that a needle is being poked into your arm, and the vaccine is pushed into the muscle.

What you can do

In most cases, muscle pain from Shingrix is short term. In fact, most side effects from this vaccine only lasted between 2 and 3 days before easing.

However, if you experience muscle pain that’s severe or very bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to recommend ways to decrease the muscle pain that you experience. For example, they may recommend taking an OTC pain medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Shingrix can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

An allergic reaction may be a rare side effect of the Shingrix vaccine. For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should receive your next Shingrix dose, if applicable. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Shingrix may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

What side effects can I expect from the first dose of Shingrix?

The Shingrix vaccine is a two-dose series, which means that you’ll receive one dose of the vaccine, and then a second dose between 1 and 6 months later. Mild side effects after getting your first dose of Shingrix are common. Examples of mild side effects that were commonly reported in clinical trials of Shingrix include:

Though these side effects can occur after your Shingrix dose, not everyone receiving the vaccine will experience them. In addition, most side effects from Shingrix only lasted between 2 and 3 days before easing. So if you do experience side effects, they are typically short term.

If you have additional questions or concerns about what side effects to expect from your first dose of Shingrix, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” above.

Should I expect swollen lymph nodes after having the Shingrix vaccine?

Swollen lymph nodes weren’t a common side effect that people reported in clinical trials after receiving the Shingrix vaccine. So you shouldn’t expect to experience swollen lymph nodes. (Lymph nodes are small organs that are part of your immune system. They may swell up when you have an infection.)

In clinical trials, one person reported swollen lymph nodes after receiving the Shingrix vaccine. So although it’s possible to develop swollen lymph nodes after your Shingrix vaccine, it isn’t a common side effect.

If you develop swollen lymph nodes after receiving your vaccine, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing your lymph nodes to swell and whether you may need treatment for an infection.

Can I get shingles from the Shingrix vaccine?

No, you can’t get shingles from the Shingrix vaccine.

The Shingrix vaccine is an inactivated vaccine. This means that it contains dead pieces of the shingles virus. These dead virus pieces stimulate your immune system so that it can recognize and fight this virus.

If you have questions about the Shingrix vaccine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you receive Shingrix. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are known as drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Shingrix, any of its ingredients, or any other vaccines, your doctor may not recommend Shingrix. In some cases, such as if you’ve had reactions to other vaccines, they may recommend that you receive your Shingrix vaccine in a medical facility in case you have an allergic reaction.

Alcohol with Shingrix

There aren’t any known interactions between the Shingrix vaccine and alcohol. If you have questions or concerns about drinking alcohol around the time of getting your Shingrix vaccine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding during Shingrix treatment

It’s not known whether it may be safe to receive the Shingrix vaccine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

At this time, there isn’t enough information from pregnant people receiving the Shingrix vaccine to determine whether it may be safe.

In animal studies, there wasn’t an increased risk of congenital anomalies (also known as birth defects) when pregnant animals were given the vaccine. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans.

It’s also not known whether the Shingrix vaccine may pass into breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a child who is breastfed.

If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor to find out whether Shingrix may be safe for you.

In most cases, side effects from Shingrix are mild. Although rare, it’s possible to have serious side effects from Shingrix as well.

If you’d like to learn more about Shingrix, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from receiving the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Shingrix. For details about other aspects of Shingrix, refer to this article.
  • Drug comparison. To learn how Shingrix compares with Zostavax, read this article.
  • Drug costs. For information about the cost of Shingrix, refer to this article.
  • A look at shingles. For details about shingles, see our list of shingles articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.