WhiIe I have not been formally diagnosed with CFS, I have tried the new Shingrix vaccine. Shortly after taking it, within a day I became extremely exhausted and very non-functional. It was scary. It took about a month to get back to where I had been health wise. The vaccine is usually given in a couple of shots months apart. My doctor recommended that I not take the next shot after this "bad reaction."
As a child I didn't have bad reactions to vaccinations.
I have bad reactions to the flu vaccine, but I still think the benefits outweigh the frustrations.... I'm wondering why, but I don't know much about vaccines, and need the bnefits (shorter, less intense flu)... I had an MMR vaccine a few years back and didn't notice a problem, but I'm not sure... So, maybe CFS'ers have a problem w virus vaccines?? It took me about a month to get back to normal after the flu vaccine last Fall; I felt like I had a lot of extra fatigue and inflammation. Ironically, I felt pretty good when I got the vaccine, so losing momentum was a bummer, but at the same time, it was good to know that it was clearly a result of the vaccine since I was otherwise good.
A few ideas: the vaccine may be derived from eggs and I've been sensitive to eggs since a particularly nasty stomach bug a few years ago... 2nd, there's an adjuvant in the shot that stimulates the immune system, which may just piss off my immune system (ie, eggs or adjuvant may be the issue, vs virus)... 3rd, maybe my immune system just can't cope w viruses in any form. (the actual virus - though "dead" - is the problem).