COVID 19 vaccination

[Koalajane]

hi, I have just read that the vaccine may not be given people with weakened immune systems.

Do we, with PMR have a weakened immune system?

Thanks for your help

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think that may well be the Beeb (is that where you saw it?) extrapolating to the old-fashioned vaccines.

This is a totally new form of vaccine that does not contain any virus in it, just synthetic bits of the virus to encourage the immune system to be able to recognise it. I would say that not enough has been established about the new vaccine yet to say one way or the other who it can be used in but they are intending to use it first of all in the oldest people - who, by definition have poorer immune responses than younger people. If they decide to not use it in immunocompromised patients I imagine that would be patients on really heavy-duty immunusuppression therapy such as is used for organ or bone marrow transplant patients. Moderate dose pred is not particularly immunsuppressive - if it were there would be little point in us having vaccines of any sort.

horizon-magazine.eu/article...

phgfoundation.org/briefing/...

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to PMRpro]

Does it make sense that, even though some of us might not benefit from the vaccine due to being immunocompromised.... the 20 million people being vaccinated will massively reduce the R in the 'herd' (horrible expression), thus collaterally protecting us all. Win win result.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pollynolongerinagony]

20 million won't be enough - that is less than 30%.

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

Well, it's a start!😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Constance13]

But not enough to break the chain

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

I have just agreed to take part in COVID-19 research. Name chosen at random from GP lists in England. Questionnaire did not ask for medical history.

[kulina in reply to PMRpro]

Just curious PMRpro, what do you consider a "moderate" dose? 1 mg? 5 mg?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kulina]

10-15mg is moderate, 20mg and above is high

[kulina in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you!

[MrsNails]

Hi, glad Pro’s replied, l’m on Nana Duty 💗 there will be a lot of speculation in the News, l think until we have some idea when it’s available it’s not worth speculating to be honest.

The PM gave a list of who will be eligible in what order yesterday but it’s possible it will change, it’s on Gov.Com

Late last night there was news from Lilley that they have made a breakthrough in Antibodies so an exciting day but l fear it will be next year before things get underway.

Prof Van Tam said we need be cautious until all the Safety Tests have been carried out!

Angela x

Back to MissC

[Longtimer in reply to MrsNails]

On MTX like you, but will watch he news, not much else we can do...enjoy nana duties.....

my grandaughter is 21 OH decided to sort out a bedroom...just found a little box with things we have kept over the years...a little pink plastic teddy bear ring with a little note rolled up to say how much she loved us......it has given me a lift on this miserable day.....they grow up so fast...

[Koalajane in reply to MrsNails]

Enjoy your Nana duties and thanks for taking the time out to reply.

Jane x

[Fran_Benson Partner]

It's too early to say exactly how the roll out will work and there will be much speculation just as there has been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. From the government website we know that 40 million vaccines have been procured and based on people needing two shots that should cover 20 million people and we can probably exclude children and young people from being top of the list, if they are on the list at all.

A government spokesman said: "Once approved, the NHS stands ready to begin a vaccination programme for those most at risk, as currently recommended by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), before being rolled out more widely."

I think we should wait and see and remember the rules we have been living by, washing hands, keeping our social distances and following the lockdown rules.

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to Fran_Benson]

Does it make sense that, even though some of us might not benefit from the vaccine due to being immunocompromised.... the 20 million people being vaccinated will massively reduce the R in the 'herd' (horrible expression), thus collaterally protecting us all. Win win result.

[Fran_Benson Partner in reply to Pollynolongerinagony]

Yes that's the general principle of vaccination. The more people are vaccinated the better the community as a whole is protected.

It's really important to remember though at the moment that we don't know exactly who will get the vaccine - we have some general guidelines but there are still questions - nor how much protection it might give to more "vulnerable" people. We're all being very cautious. What we do know is based on Pfizer's recent announcement but there is still more detail to come, The Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine results are due shortly - those sound promising too. I'm sure I read somewhere that the government has procured a greater quantity of these vaccines. So there is lots of encouraging news but we do need to be patient to find out some of the finer details.

[Koalajane]

Thanks for your replies. Yes it was on the Beeb , you are right.

And yes I will continue with masks, social distancing and washing hands for probably a long time to come, certainly until it is well under control.

We will wait and see.

Thanks again

Jane

[PainInTheDeltoids]

I understood that the current Pfizer vaccine is designed to induce an immune response to the virus RNA (which has never been done before). There is then a need to boost that response 2 - 3 weeks later with a second jab.

Therefore if you have a depleted immune response the vaccination won't work, and your immunity to Covid ineffective. So not harmful but lulling you into a false state of confidence.

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to PainInTheDeltoids]

Does it make sense that, even though some of us might not benefit from the vaccine due to being immunocompromised.... the 20 million people being vaccinated will massively reduce the R in the 'herd' (horrible expression), thus collaterally protecting us all. Win win result.

[Pollynolongerinagony]

Does it make sense that, even though some of us might not benefit from the vaccine due to being immunocompromised.... the 20 million people being vaccinated will massively reduce the R in the 'herd' (horrible expression), thus collaterally protecting us all. Win win result.

!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pollynolongerinagony]

I fear that 20 million is not enough - it is thought herd immunity is only achieved with rates of vacciniation above 70-80%. 20 millions is under 30%.

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to PMRpro]

This shot will massively reduce the R and so dislocate the spread, which will buy us time...

The vac shot might not kill the beast immediately, but I believe and hope, in the long term, it will prove to be the fatal shot ....

There will always be an echo of covid with us ... but like all echoes, in time, they become weaker the further away are ...

Merry (covid free) Christmas .

[PainInTheDeltoids]

Absolutely. As long as we all continue with distancing/masks/hand washing as well.

My feeling is that Covid will still come back and bite us from time to time - maybe a bit like flu.

(And being very much a misery, TB still kills 1.5 million people a year worldwide despite there being a useful vaccination and fairly successful treatment options.)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PainInTheDeltoids]

And the figures are rising at present. Because of Covid.