The man with super antibodies against COVID-19...

John Hollis got infected with COVID-19 but did not get ill.

Are there more like him? As Prof Hughes observed lupus sufferers are less likely to get the flu (another coronavirus).

Why?

cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as...

bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-...

[suzannah16]

if we are less likely to get flu why do we have to have the flu jab? i've had flu only once in my 56 [shh] years tho.

[Hidden in reply to suzannah16]

Yes. This has been an observation by Prof Hughes (London Lupus Centre) in his book. I’ve had the flu jab myself last November but one wonders?

Our immune system is very complicated but...?

[suzannah16 in reply to Hidden]

weird if true. wonder what else we may be immune to. I would love to travel in to the future when all the covid research has maybe helped discover new things about lupus.

[Largather]

HiHope you are all trying to stay well.

I have never had the flu jab and never had the flu. Dont get many infections except kidney problems and twice a bad chest infection. I'm on hydroxy 200mg every other day and vit D injections every 8 weeks. And for 20 years I've been treated at the Royal London Hospital for Intergrated Medicine, so I have very few chemical medicines, most are homeopathic . I follow a gluten , yeast and dairy free diet , and I dont have steroid or immunotherapy. And I have managed to not deteriorate too much in 15 years despite also having suspected Porphyria. Then came the Pfizer vaccine!!! Huge desision to have it. I'm 6 weeks post first jab and still very I'll. My Rheumy is saying not to have the second. So where does that leave me re a vaccine passport.??? I was well prior and I'm sure that vit d and hydroxy have been helping us all against covid. I had a covid test prior to the vaccine to ensure I was clear to try and avoid any complications but I wish I'd have had an antibody test also.

There seems to be a lot of auto immune people reacting very badly to these vaccines. And we know that the trials didnt include cancer, autoimmune, MS, children, pregnancy ect.... I feel our Rheumy guys should look into this and help us by demanding research quickly.

Also, what happens to people who cannot have this jab, do they become outcasts, not going out or on holidays or work ect... more help is needed on this surly.

[Paprika60 in reply to Largather]

Hi, I read your response with much interest. I too have not had any sort of flu like symptoms for many years and no cold. And I never get the flu jab as it makes me very unwell. I take high dosage of Vitamin D daily and am on 400 mg. Hydroxychloroquine though I am trying to lower to 200 mg. but my doctor is not happy about it. Unlike you I have had IVIG antibody (twice a year) treatments over last four years but I have weaned myself off all other medication. I got very ill for three weeks after the first Pfizer and I wanted to have a break but my doctor absolutely insisted that I have the second only right away as I was in the antibody study. That was over 5 weeks ago and I have been ill ever since. You are lucky your doctor suggested a rest. A wise doctor. At the end of the third week I had to give another blood test for the study. They clearly need to know if AI patients develop enough antibodies. Mind you, nobody asks how I have felt. They are not interested in symptoms at all. They just want the blood results. Something serious not right there, if you ask me.I hear the second Pfizer is often worse than the first for many. I read a post by someone who has had over 8 weeks and was still not getting any better.

What is very odd is that my husband had something that was so like Covid during Jan. 2020. He was at a dinner next to someone who went skiing in Italy just before. He was sure he caught it from that person. What is strange is that I didn't catch it from him at all. He gets cold every winter and I never catch it off of him. I have been very careful and stay very cautious ever since I came down with AI but I still breathe same air and we share a bed room. But no nothing...and I have really low blood counts, neutrophil around 1.2

I do hope you feel better soon and you will have to decide if you should get the second but it is probably better to wait and see what the study says. We all have to live with similar regulation for a long while so regardless of the second dose, we still have to wear a mask and watch out. I also heard that people like us may have to get a third dose...and I definitely will say no to that. Best.

[panther50]

I’ve never heard this before. I have had flu several times since I was diagnosed (quite badly a couple of years ago-I hadn’t had flu jab). There’s a lot of unknowns about how we all react to new COVID vaccine. I was nervous, but at the end of the day I think COVID itself is far more unpredictable & dangerous. Long COVID sounds very similar to a long lupus flare and the antibodies seen in hospitalised patients have only been seen before in SLE patients. In COVID it’s your immune system over reacting & attacking your body that is fatal not the virus itself. One of my friends has been advised to wait until her white cells were high enough before she can have it. The jab has adjuvants to encourage an immune response so unfortunately flares are possible, but it does seem like the majority of us here have had it and have been ok. I agree that those who can’t have it shouldn’t be marginalised.

[Breezar]

This is so confusing! If you read anywhere about Lupus, it says we're more vulnerable to infections including cold and flu. However, I've never had a cold in my life and never caught the flu either even though I've been certainly in close contact with people who were sick. I'm not taking any medicines ( tried Hydroxy 20 years ago when first diagnosed for a week and it made so ill that I had to stop ).

I am wondering if someone has ever done any serious study about this? As some of you say, what if we're actually immune? It'd be definitely good to know. I've been mostly shielding since it all started and extremely careful and now faced with the decision of having the vaccine, I feel almost nauseous with the idea. I am not anti-vaccines and I know from trusted sources that the vaccines developed had undergone serious testing but, I have this gut feeling that they will make me sicker and awaken a Lupus that has been mostly mild for years. I am still debating what to do with myself and really anxious about either decisions so I'd love it if someone takes the time to research whether it's true that for some odd reason, some of us are immune.

Definitely not all Lupus patients are immune as there is proof that many had caught Covid lupus.bmj.com/content/7/Sup...

I guess with all the rambling I just wanted to know how many of you are in a similar situation and never caught a cold/flu. It'd also be great to hear from anyone who had Covid and can explain how he/she were affected. Just out of curiosity of course since only scientists could really undertake such research.

Thank you!

[Paprika60 in reply to Breezar]

I had two Pfizer doses and have felt that it has made my condition so very much worse so there is a possibility that it will make your condition worse. However, since you don't know and nobody knows, this also means that you can never socialise and live in isolation at all times. That was the main reason for my getting the vaccine...and in all honesty I don't know if it was a good decision or not. I don't know yet. Hydroxychloroquine has made me very ill over the years but my doctor is telling me it is my condition, not the pills...and I feel completely trapped. If I stopped taking Hydroxy, I might end up with a full blown symptoms and that is scary. Hope you make the right decision that is right for you. In a year or two surely the medical world will know more. Let's hope!

[MichelleHarris]

Lots of people contracted covid and been asymptomatic. Built up their own immunity x

[Hidden in reply to MichelleHarris]

Yes and could possibly spread it?

[MichelleHarris in reply to Hidden]

The vulnerable are vacinated x

[panther50 in reply to Hidden]

Yes and whilst this would give you some immunity for a while. No one knows how long it lasts.

[panther50]

You have to weigh up the chance of reacting badly to the vaccine to reacting badly to COVID. I know where my money is. No one’s denying the choice of the individual, but if a large majority of the population aren’t vaccinated, this increases the chance of mutations developing that are vaccine resistant (& possibly even more dangerous, affecting younger people too) and that will put everyone back to square one and cost more lives. This is where we’d be if no one took it. When making your own decision, this does have an effect on society as a whole, it isn’t all about the individual. Having the vaccine may well reduce transmission. It isn’t a fact that it doesn’t. “There may be many people with super antibodies” - not really backed up by the number of people who’ve become infected, ill and died over the last year is it?

Yes of course governments (& the NHS) want us to be vaccinated.

There’s two definitive answers- COVID has killed millions over the last year. Vaccination may not be perfect, but it is the only way out.

[Hidden in reply to panther50]

The death rates (all ages) in South Korea are surprisingly low. Why?

Perhaps the philosophy is “Prevention is paramount “ well before vacs were available?🤔

There must be something in the country’s approach to dealing with highly infectious diseases.

The country learnt a lot from MERS virus years ago and have a leader who is also a public health doctor 👨‍⚕️. One wonders what their vaccination figures are?

[panther50 in reply to Hidden]

Yes completely agree their management has been amazing. Ours was totally rubbish & has been lacking throughout. South Korea have been slow to vaccinate due to delays in supply, but their PM is aiming to have 70% of it’s population vaccinated by autumn. This is in the hope of returning to normal life.