Ask the Experts: Covid Vaccine

[piglette]

This afternoon I joined a Webinar on the Covid vaccines run by by Prof. Tim Spector of the Zoe Project. He was joined by Prof. Peter Openshaw, a virus expert and the Director of the Human Challenge Consortium (HIC-Vac) at Imperial College London.

Interestingly enough they talked about those with immuno- suppressed systems. They mentioned that it is thought that some of the medication people are taking to cause the immuno-suppression may in fact be a help and protect us a bit against the virus. This has not been confirmed as such, it is just suspected.

The talk will be on YouTube later in the week.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Yes I watched it as well - and thought that was an interesting point.

[MrsNails]

That’s Really Very Interesting......

[Rache]

🤗

[Lovebikes]

I watched it too and they mentioned that the Oxford vaccine was a live vaccine. There's often chat on here about the live shingles vaccine being a bad idea. Does anyone know whether it is specifically the live shingles or any live vaccine?

[Kendrew in reply to Lovebikes]

I know that I've heard before that live vaccines are not considered for people with suppressed immune systems, yet Prof Openshaw definitely intimated at one point that the live version of covid vaccine would most probably be ok for people with moderate immuno- suppression but not severe! Not sure how he would define either though! More informed people will be able to explain that for us I'm sure.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lovebikes]

It is live vaccines of any sort - but most authorities say that a moderate dose of pred can be compatible with use of a live vaccine. That usually means below 20mg pred but it depends.

I had read that none of the vaccines were live but I won't argue with TIM - I do suspect though that the "live" aspect is because they use a virus that causes a cold in chimpanzees and IT is live but engineered to stop it infecting humans so it can be used as a transport medium. Then they add bits to look the same as the Covid-19 ...

news.sky.com/story/covid-19...

[SheffieldJane]

How interesting.

[Bcol]

Interesting, I'll have to watch on YouTube when it appears. I wasn't able to watch it yesterday as I was listening to Professor Dasgupta's webinar, which was also interesting, particularly if you compared his recommendations to the information and reality of the users of this forum.

[Kendrew in reply to Bcol]

Where did you hear about Prof Dasguptas webinar please? I had notification of a previous one, but somehow missed this one!

[Bcol in reply to Kendrew]

Hi Kendrew. It was on here I think, it is one of a series he is doing, I'll see if I can find the link.

[DogAgilityObsessed in reply to Bcol]

I too missed the announcement about the talk. Does anyone know if others are planned and if they were recorded?

[MrsNails in reply to DogAgilityObsessed]

The one yesterday was as free but the others will be £50 each. They were aimed at Medics but the Prof was happy for anyone with an Interest in PMR to join.

Fran did post on here about it also.

[Bcol in reply to DogAgilityObsessed]

If you want to message me with your email I'll forward you all the dates

[Bcol in reply to DogAgilityObsessed]

This should be the link to yesterdays slides. Peter

we.tl/t-XWA0L51KJs

[Bcol in reply to DogAgilityObsessed]

Thus should be the link to the rest of the webinars. Peter

forms.gle/rmw9dHSTofpw1VkMA

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

Currently at the bargain price of £50 a throw! Yesterday's was a free taster - there is a maximum of 100 places, under 50 turned up for it.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Indeed, suspect I won't be attending the paid ones. I wonder if he gets paid or if the entry fees go to a suitable charity - probably a very simple question!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

Bet you don't get a simple answer!

[Bcol in reply to Bcol]

Ha. Just re-read what I said, meant to say "probably a very stupid question!!!"

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

mmm..

[yogabonnie]

Is there a link I missed???

[Lovebikes in reply to yogabonnie]

I heard about the Covid vaccine talk through the Covid-19 symptom tracker app that I complete each day. Its run through Imperial College/ Zoe. They do regular updates on the findings of the app and also other Covid related topics like this. You can download the app from covid.joinzoe.com/ or phone app store

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Lovebikes]

Symptom study is UK based, yogabonnie lives in US - but she will be able to see discussion on YouTube, although not sure if she will be able to access zoe site.

[Pipalina]

I thought this was an interesting and straightforward article about the fears surrounding the new COVID vaccines.

"No one should be forced to have the vaccine, but there is nothing to fear from getting it, writes Professor BRENDAN WREN...!

dailymail.co.uk/debate/arti...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

link to ask the experts - hopefully works

youtube.com/watch?v=rD6t5OH...(Not working as expected?)

[readingbooks in reply to DorsetLady]

Works fine for me in Canada. Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to readingbooks]

Good

[headgirl in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady, works fine for me and is really interesting.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to headgirl]

Good

[jayemmemm in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you; worked perfectly. An authoritative and reassuring discussion which I will share with all my contacts.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to jayemmemm]

Good

[Lookingforideas]

I was registered for that but something happened so I was really late into it and only got the 2nd half. I’d love to be able to see it from the start in u tube. Do you know exactly when next week it might be available? Thanks 😊

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Lookingforideas]

if you mean the covid one look above

[yogabonnie]

watched it on You Tube just now! Hope this is all true and hope it is Prednisone! yea! cannot WAIT to get that vaccine...pushing babies and old people out of my way. haha

[piglette in reply to yogabonnie]

Will you get the vaccine for free in the US?

[yogabonnie in reply to piglette]

yes. as far as I know. I have good health insurance so I needn't worry ... but I CERTAINLY hope it is free for everyone I think it will be. And hopefully better healthcare for all!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Already done

[Teatrees]

So reading the data so far, are we saying that with RA in simple terms most of the vaccines work on attacking the T cells and as we have low B cells and if you are on Toficitinab or the like, that we do have a little protection now and that this may not work for us? It is very confusing. Also which is not a live Covid - 19 vaccine?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Teatrees]

NONE of the Covid vaccines are live. One is live in that to transport the vaccine into the body they use an inactivated virus which causes a cold in chimpanzees but which has been manipulated so it cannot cause disease in humans. The mRNA vaccines have had no virus anywhere near them - they are synthetic models of the spike protein so the immune system learns to recognise that and respond.

[Teatrees in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply. That is very good news as my RA consultant again reiterated, I must NOT have a live vaccine and I have another friend who is the same.