This may provoke a tirade from people who feel very strongly one way or another, but I felt it was worth flagging up - please try to be polite!
There has been previous discussion on here about whether to go for further booster vaccinations against Covid-19 now it is no longer ‘NEWS’ . Currently most people seem to be having a mild illness. However, it is still a major threat to those of us who are immunosuppressed and particularly if we have other medical problems as well. We are now at the time of year when infections historically are at their lowest, but in March and April there were over one and a half thousand people in hospital with Covid-19.
Three studies published recently (29 July 2023) in the British Medical Journal confirm that mRNA vaccines for Covid-19 protection work well. They prevented older adults (who have a less active immune system) from having a severe illness following exposure to Covid-19. This was especially true for vaccines adapted to deal with the most recent variants. The studies involved very large numbers, the first study 3.6 million, the second 1.7 million, the third 2.5million with linked data from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Large numbers do tend to make studies more convincing! I know you will all want to make up your own minds, but I found these studies reassuring.
The vaccines were carefully followed up and showed excellent safety profiles in the first 28 days after vaccination. There was no excess risk of neurological, cardiovascular, autoimmune, or other serious conditions. A small number of women developed myocarditis – between 2-3 additional cases per million booster doses. This risk is much smaller than that of developing severe Covid-19 or the risk of myocarditis resulting from Covid-19. (In other studies myocarditis mostly occurred after mRNA vaccination in males aged 12-39 after the second dose).
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oldtimer2
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Well I am on biologics and have had all my jabs. Got covid for the first time in February. Had anti virals and even with all that it took nearly three weeks to clear the virus from my body. I am apart from the RA an active non smoker who hardly drinks. Without the jabs and anti virals who knows what my fate would have been so I will be having any boosters that are offered.
On the other hand, I have only had 4 vaccinations….I am on Rituximab & had Covid…I had no anti virals as it was over Christmas & the system didn’t work too well then, but really, although I wouldn’t want a repeat, in my experience it was no worse than a cold.
I think now it appears we will all react differently to both Covid,& the vaccines….& we have to decide for ourselves what jabs we will have.
Hi. I’m 52 with RA and am an active non smoker who drinks within safety limits. I’ve had 6 vaccinations for covid and two weeks ago got covid for the third time. I was on holiday sharing a very small room with my healthy husband and two Children. They didn’t get it so I’m in no doubt that being immuno suppressed increases risk. I’ll keep getting what’s offered and am happy not to be in a jar on my families mantlepiece lol. Btw it was like a bad cold with a debilitating sore lower back this time. Keep safe all.
Some excellent information here. I have UCTD with inflammatory arthritis as one of my symptoms. I am just on hydroxychloroquine (for Lupus Lite aspect of the disease) and steroids now and then. I was still called up for my booster, which I was surprised about but had. My understanding is that they recognise that Covid can have more serious consequences for people with some diseases including connective tissue disease as well as for those on much stronger immunosuppresants. Thank you for sharing.
We have no choice- we have to take the vaccine. I've had 6 - I had Covid a few weeks ago and was taken care of by the virtual ward and the anti-virals worked well- it still took me 3 weeks to get over it.
Yes but having the vaccines means I had protection and did not go to hospital. I did think I was dying the first day. My Covid lasted ten days. I think if we have chronic conditions we have the responsibility to do all we can to protect ourselves and in my case that includes the vaccines.
Yep I've had 6 too. booster back in June and I'm really glad!. My daughter who lives with me has had covid since last week, we've kept our distance in the house and are mask wearing and cleaning and so far I'm ok. Lots of peps with it here in Wales. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Thanks for the info makes sense.
I'm rather conflicted by the vaccine programme now. Within three days of having the first vaccine in March 2021 I developed severe pain in my knees and struggled to walk. The pain and swelling spread to my hands, feet and ankles.
Months of investigation later I was told by a rheumatology consultant I'd had a reaction to the vaccine. I was put on a high dose of steroids and over the following weeks and months the pain and swelling reduced significantly.
But soon after the steroid treatment ended all the symptoms came back. Further tests and I was diagnosed as seronegative RA.
Of course I can't prove the vaccine caused my RA. The consultant says it likely 'triggered' it, although I have none of the common risk factors. Maybe genetic predisposition, who knows.
But I'm certain the vaccine did trigger it, and I've been told of other instances of autoimmune reactions by clinicians.
I'm not an anti vaxer, otherwise I wouldn't have had it, or continued to have boosters (feeling I have no choice now I'm immunosuppressed).
But I regret ever having it, with it likely to have resulted in a permanent illness. My wife and I both caught it once, last year. She's unvaccinated. She was no worse than I, with my vaccine and boosters. And yet I was critical of her not having the vaccine to begin with. Not any more.
People must make their own choice. But behind the stats there are personal human stories of both pros and cons. We shouldn't forget that.
You are of course correct in this. Although I have tolerated the covid vaccines to some degree I have unfortunately reacted to the flu vaccine with inflammation of the intercostal joints. It took a while to work out the cause but each year I had it (3 years in total) the reaction got worse until by the third time I awoke in the middle of the night, 12 hrs after the jab with horrific pain in my ribs. It took 7 months of steroids to bring it a little under control. I now have chronic costochondritis and other intercostal pain. It is an unusual reaction, I know. Last year, I didn't have the flu jab but of course had to be careful to try and not come in contact with anyone. All things carry risk with them. It's a personal risk vs benefits exercise.
Hi. It's good to know i'm not alone in this. I start beeing sick 4 hours after the vaccine. And i had difficulty to breath and walk. They didn't help me to have appointement, check for answer. The gouvernement just call me to check if i was alive each month for the first year after the vaccin. So no treatment, no help. At leat, my family came helping me to have food and everything. i'm a litgle better now but i'm seeing a rhumatogist because i always have weird symtoms. I'm waiting for a diagnosis similar to yours. I'm always scare nothing gonna show on the blood test and i'm gonna have to start again at the beginning with my bad gp. The longer i wait i'm more scare to loose the function in one of my body part. Already have sequel for the rest of my life after two bad doctor misdiagnosed me. I'm not anti vaccin but the doctor should treat us and believe us anyway. Because nobody is suppose to say that vaccin can trigger something worse, you cannot be treat for it. They told me it's asthma, trigeminal problem, it's in my head, nobody want to look at all that happen to me in 2 years. I know is not a lot of people that get sick but at least don't deny it and treat us like people that have other illness with respect. I was in really good shape before the vaccin and now i'm happy when i can walk and do a normal day. I had covid one year later and for me it was a joke. Had to stay home because of the new law but it was less than a cold. Everybody react differently.
I'm not diagnosed yet (still waiting for test results), but I had my last booster October 2022 then had Covid for the first time over Christmas. I do worry now that if I caught it I wouldn't get over it as easily as I did last time and I read something the other day that suggested Covid rates were up again. Gulp!
On the other hand, I've barely been leaving the house due to feeling so unwell, so that probably reduces the chance of me catching it. Hopefully I'll be offered a booster in the autumn, along with the flu jab.
As you say it's entirely up to the individual. That said it is now known that the jabs cause autoimmune issues and heart problems in some people. It is not a small number. Interestingly jabbed folks seem to get covid more frequently than non jabbed. I think it's just a matter of looking at risk benefits for each individual. For me it's not worth it. Others may feel differently of course.
I would be interested to see the information about immune suppressed people getting Covid more frequently if they have been vaccinated as I have not seen any studies published. Thanks.
I don't find that his arguments stand up to examination of basic scientific principles. He may have trained as a virologist, but he seems to have strayed from intellectual rigorous examination.
refutes Geert Vanden Bosshe's arguments which are not based on scientific logic. "Vanden Bossche has achieved some public attention for publicizing an open letter to the World Health Organization opposing vaccinations against SARS‐CoV‐2"
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Covid 19 Vaccine antibody results 
RA - 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune diseases survey
Result Covid 19 positive.
