Over 65 Flu vaccine

[jodary]

I have just reached 65 and so my flu vaccine was the first one I've had in that category. For the first time I have had some side effects which started 24 hours after the vaccine. It started with my arm becoming painful and then headache, back ache and then nausea and stomach pain and diarrhoea. So that was day one after the vaccine and today day 2 I am feeling better although still have the tender arm and some back ache. I have read that the over 65 vaccine contains an adjuvant and as Ive never had a reaction before with the flu vaccine am wondering if this is the reason for this reaction. Has this happened to anyone else ?

[hunter5582]

There are several different types of flu vaccine for age over 65. One of them does contain an adjuvant. aarp.org/health/conditions-...

It seems reasonable to think we may well respond differently to one of these than those we took several years ago. There is a reported higher probability of the same adverse affects or other flu vaccines.

Beats the heck out of ending up in the hospital with influenza in my view. I will be getting the vaccine tomorrow.

[EPguy]

As Hunter says, there are various senior flu vaxes. The main idea is to get increased reaction to compensate for the typically reduced immune response with age. Seems you got the intended reaction.

As I've noted elsewhere too, we have a similar choice with the Covid vax. Moderna is a higher dose (50mcg) than Pfizer (30). They don't sell it as a senior vax, but the Moderna is a way to get more if one seeks that.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Are you sure that the inflenza vax didnt include the added s.... (return of chicken pox)

Sorry forgotten name. st...

cheri JOY. 73. (NZ)

[EPguy in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

You likely mean the Shingles vax. This is not offered as a combo with flu or any other I know of. But of course one can get both same time. Since Shingrix can have strong side effects it's best to get it alone. But it is worth getting. esp if you are on Rux, shingles is a higher risk.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to EPguy]

Hi

Quite right. Shingles.

In NZ it is given as understand it .. together.

What are the side effects?

I have had chicken pox. But I nursed my Mum with shingles so 'm not having it.

I was tested when meascles circulated and my immunity showed that I still had immunsation to meascles.

Was a nurse and got all the immunity jabs in the 60s.

I am careful as the Hep B started up sore head with showing antigens right away with No. 1 of 3. After that I now show 1,000 ? against Hep B.

Going to Bali I asked the Dr to test for Hep A and I was already had immunity.

cheri. JOY. 73. (NZ)

[EPguy]

This is from the site of the vax maker:

"The most common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever, and upset stomach"

shingrix.com/

These are typical of most vaxes, but Shingrix does tend to cause more pronounced effects. My Dr did it on Friday in case i needed weekend to recover. Then there is a 2nd dose later with the same effects possibility. I did feel it, more than the Covid vax for sure.

If you had Chicken pox you have the virus that causes Shingles. Younger people who get the chicken pox vax are less likely to get shingles, but still can, from what I read. As the site says, 99%+ of us over 50's have the ch pox virus in us. My brother got the disease so I was motivated to get the vax.

There is an older shingles shot that is still used in some areas, but the newer one is more effective. I had both. That is strange that NZ would offer it as a combo in one, it seems not the best candidate for that with its higher effects tendency.