Response after 2nd booster

[LizGB]

Hi, I am an active monitoring (actually not very active, was due to be seen in September) CLL sufferer. My GP gave me a 2nd booster of Pfizer on Wednesday and I have been absolutely felled by the vaccine. I did not have much of a response to Astra x 2, the only slightly enlarged glands for my 3rd booster, but this one has been terrible. Very large glands everywhere, dizziness and nausea. I did not show antibodies from the first two, but after the 1st booster I did the National Cancer Survey which said I was showing antibodies. Does anyone have any theory why this 4th jab would hit me so hard, is there any correlation between responses and antibody levels.

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Liz

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Healthy lymphocytes multiply and mature into antibody producing plasma cells in the node germinal centers, causing nodes to swell. That's why swollen nodes are a common vaccination symptom. Some of us with CLL do experience excessively, thankfully temporarily swollen nodes from vaccinations, however. I think it is fair to say, based on earlier shared vaccination experiences here, that if you produced an antibody response from your previous vaccination, you should produce an even better one with this booster.

There isn't a correlation with the other side effects and antibody response and I'm not aware of any studies regarding a correlation between the degree of node swelling and antibody levels.

Neil

[Jake_Bullet]

Hi

I had my booster on Wednesday (4th dose). I have had pretty bad reaction to them all. The first two being AZ and the last two being Pfizer. The last one hit me really hard like yours did. Two days of fever, aching and fatigue plus large lymph node in armpit of vaccine site. I did get an antibody test after my third primary dose and it showed a relatively good response. So Neil’s comments about producing a even better response would seem true. But I wonder if therefore there is a correlation between response and effects, it’s seems to be the case personally.

[JEEA]

Thanks for posting this. I also had AZ for my first two --and did have a positive antibody response --though no idea by how much. Had Pfizer for number 3 and again had positive antibodies according to the NHS. No reaction after any of the these. Due my booster (4th vaccine) on 21st of this month. Wondering if I need it or not....... I'm just 'watch and wait'. Now slightly fearful of reaction. Are you better now? Of course, I probably will get it just to be on the safe side.

[LizGB in reply to JEEA]

Jeea - yes I feel much better day 4-thank you still have a very large gland under my arm, but it is softening and not requiring pain relief any more. If I had known, I would have waited till after New Year and cleared a couple of days. But as other have said it is very personal. Better than the disease I would say. Stay safe Liz

[JEEA]

Thank you. I will get it but given your experience will make sure that I haven't anything important to do right afterwards. Omicron is so virulent at present. Glad that you are feeling better.