What Causes Low Grade Fever After Taking A Zoster Vaccine?

Posted on Mon, 3 Apr 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 3 Apr 2017 Answered on

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband and I received zostavax vaccines yesterday. We each have the expected local site reaction involving some warmness and a little raised welt, but not really any pain. We've also both had low grade (about 99-99.5 degree) fever today. These symptoms were expected and we'd been made aware of. However, looking online (I know...never helpful for ones peace of mind) revealed reports of necrotizing retinitis and episodes of CHF. I am desperately hoping these reports are not including those patients' predisposing histories, but I need to know what we should be looking out for...if in fact, otherwise healthy individuals are at risk for these more severe and scary adverse effects. I will, of course, be consulting my physician, but was hoping for some kind of insight that will maybe make sleeping easier tonight. Thanks so much for your time.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not a cause for concern. No need to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Let me assure you the mentioned feverishness or feeling of slight elevation on the site are entirely acceptable and not a cause for concern. Let me assure you that they are in no way related to CHF or necrotizing retinitis and you need not worry about the same. Adverse effects are seen is a very small section of patients (1 in 1000, 1 in 10,000 or sometimes even lesser) and so you need not assume that you would be among the ones getting them.

I would insist you to relax.

Feel free to write back.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy