Side Effects from Pneumonia Shot

[SAMSON44]

I had a streptococcus pneumonia shot a few days ago - location of shot painful & now I have swollen & painful lymph nodes on the underside of that arm. Anyone have that experience? If so, what treatment? Thanks!

[Ashmom]

Hi Samson44, I too just had my pneumonia shot a few days ago and like you, my arm was swollen and sore. My lymph nodes were also tender, but today things have subsided. This also happened to me (to a greater extent) when I had the flu shot a few months ago. Hoping things will settle down for you.

Ash

[SAMSON44 in reply to Ashmom]

Thanks for responding. I'm hoping for that, too!

SAMSON44

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Take it as a positive sign that your shot is working. Lymph nodes are where the vaccine antigens are presented to new, healthy B-lymphocytes, which go through a hypermutation phase to generate antibodies specific to the vaccine. Successfully matched hypermutated B-lymphocytes multiply, causing the nodes to swell with the expanding population of lymphocytes specific to the pneumonia strains in the shot. Those B-lymphocytes go on to mature into memory and plasma cells, so the next time you are exposed to live bugs that were represented in your shot, your adaptive immune system will swing into action, pouring antibodies into your system to target the potentially deadly pneumonia bugs for destruction.

Neil

[SAMSON44 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you! I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease and although it was 56 years ago, I still get nervous when I feel swollen nodes. These are very painful; when I was diagnosed, the nodes did not hurt.

[Sepsur]

Same here, I had a lymph gland under my arm pit the size of a boiled egg, slowly it dissipated over 2 months. I assumed it was because I had had a flu & pneumonia jab on same day

[albie58]

Same here! Mine swelled and were tender. I had some joint pain from both pneumonia shots that slowly went away over a week.

[pattycasas25]

You most likely suffered a Shoulder Injury SIRVA. Shoulder Injury related to vaccine Administration. You should look into this you have 3 years to file a claim with the VICP.

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to pattycasas25]

Can I enquire who that is directed to pattycasas as it doesn’t seem entirely appropriate advice on a CLL site.

Newdawn

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

A doctor many years ago - long before CLL entered the picture - told me that it was a good thing that there were good vaccines and that I always reacted to them, as without the vaccines I would probably be much sicker if I ever had to deal with what I was being vaccinated for. I don't have severe reactions, but I do react to the flu vaccine. I have only had one case of the flu - very minor and not one covered by the vaccines - in 16 years. I consider that to be a pretty good record, as my immune system is basically nonexistent without IVIG infusions to boost it.