Covid vaccine

Hi all, I've just had my appointment for covid vaccine (oxford) on tuesday, any opinions

[DevonshireDumpling1]

I had my first Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine last Saturday. Vaccine centre organisation was brilliant, so too the atmosphere from both patients and staff - cheery and kind. Had a bit of a sore arm and next day I noticed more achiness, muzzy head and thought I might be developing sore throat early evening but woke up on Monday back to normal.Most people I know, whichever vaccine they have had, have had the same experience.

I know that data is still being collated as to how effective these vaccines are, especially regarding their effectiveness with varients but if we don't have them then my logic seems to say that the virus will carry on spreading and increase the potential for more varients to appear. I don't want that to happen.

I don't know how my immune system will respond having been on Prednisolone for 18 month but if the vaccine protects me from having a serious illness and potential hospitalisation then that will do me.

You've probably worked out that I am pro-vaccination but I am old enough to have seen the good that it has achieved especially from my childhood in 1950's and 60's. I think we probably need it now as much as ever.

I hope all goes well for you whatever you decide to do next week.

[123-go]

I had the Oxford vaccine around three weeks ago with no side effects. I don't have an opinion - just pleased to take up the offer when it came.

[Songbird69 in reply to 123-go]

Me too. Vaccines equal freedom and I’ll have some of that please!

[FnF36]

I had my Oxford vaccination two weeks ago and apart from a slightly achy arm (site of injection) and a sense of mild disorientation (lasted a few hours) at day six, have had no ill effects.

From the beginning of the pandemic I have daily provided information to the ZOE research project. I reported the achy and disorientation experiences which resulted in my being invited to take a Coronavirus test. I took a home test and within 32 hours I received a negative result.

For context, in November 2019 I was diagnosed with GCA. My journey began with 60mg Prednisolone daily and am currently taking 17.5mg. I am pro-vaccination not only for personal well-being but for informing others and future vaccine developments that may impact upon GCA and PMR.

I hope that helps a little, wishing you wellness and safety.

[Greensleeves]

I’ve had a phone call this morning and am having vaccine this evening at 7pm .

I’ve got paracetamol in , just in case. All I can say is after having Covid , I implore everyone to have the vaccine when offered.

[piglette]

They seem to be racing through the 65s and over at the moment. When I went, there were masses of spare slots, which is rather sad.

[Greensleeves in reply to piglette]

They do, I’m not that old yet , must be part of the shielding group. Lots of celebrities in 50’s getting vaccinated now , they’re whizzing through the numbers. It’s all quite marvellous. x

[SheffieldJane]

I had my AZ vaccine last Friday. Everything conspired to make it a pleasant, efficient experience. It was amazing to see people again, everybody being courteous and sensible.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Go and get it! The risks with Covid are far far higher! And be grateful - manufacturing and supply problems mean I can't even hope for one for a while ...

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

Don't they know who you are!!!? They should be shaking in their shoes! 😳 🙂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

There aren't any to get at present! They are still working on over 80s and essential workers. Healthcare staff were actually first in line - as I think they should be.

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

I think so too. Where in the world are you? Seems a slow roll-out but would be explained by lack/shortage of supplies.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

Italy - not particularly slow, just in a different order and they are doing the 2 shots 3 weeks apart rather than aiming for a lot of single doses. Plus a later start.

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

Of course- I've read that in your past comments. I like the three weeks apart jabs.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

So do I!!!!!

[Hidden]

I'm south wales and from the conversation I had when they phoned me today, I'll have 1st on Tuesday and 2nd in about 8 wks, never heard that some countries are doing them 3 wks apart but that good

[HeronNS in reply to Hidden]

Three weeks apart is the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna is four weeks. I believe the window for the Oxford is considerably wider, and 8 weeks is perfectly suitable. This vaccine can have its two doses administered as long as three months apart.

ox.ac.uk/news/2021-02-02-ox...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

Different timescale in UK, unless one of the early tranche to be vaccinated, where some have received both.

Now virtually all are having to wait 12 weeks between first and second jab irrespective of which vaccine..

..the view being that, the more people to be vaccinated (albeit with only the first shot) will give better protection overall than a smaller number having both shots.

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

This is now going to happen in some places in Canada. I believe there is now more information about how long a good level of immunity persists after the first dose. As I've said before we are all part of a huge uncontrolled final stage trial! Because of an unreliable and scanty supply (half our recent allottment has been diverted to the far North) our chief medical officer has held back second doses, many of which have already been administered. Once the supply is more plentiful and reliable they'll be able to speed things up.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

"we are all part of a huge uncontrolled final stage trial"

in exactly the same way as any other set of clinical trials and market launch. The largest part of assessment of any medication, once they know a) it is safe and b) it works , is done like this.

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry if my comment sounded negative. I don't think, however, that a vaccine has ever had trials running concurrently rather than consecutively which has been done in this case in order to speed up release. And the mere fact that we keep being told we don't know certain things because not enough time has gone by is very unusual. Yes I know some side effects become evident from any new medication or vaccine after it goes into general use, but surely with due diligence a lot of the questions currently being answered are already known through the usual controlled trials running for longer than less than a year? Like how long to expect immunity to last? Also as far as I know the vaccines in use have been approved for early use, not yet full approval.

newsinteractives.cbc.ca/cor...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

The EU has been criticised for being slow to role out the vaccines. That is partly due to the fact it has put in place a CMA - not an EUA. Which is a significant difference

ec.europa.eu/commission/pre...

politico.eu/article/pressur...

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Similar situation may explain why Canada is slow to approve vaccines too. Still only two.

[Hidden]

As much as I truly grateful for my appointment to have vaccineand I will be having it tuesday, I still think our nhs, teachers etc should have priority

[HeronNS]

The FDA is of course not alone in approving these vaccines. I do have faith that the authorities are more interested in saving as many lives as possible than in putting more lives at risk in other ways!

[Bcol]

Go get it. Had mine, OAZ version, about three weeks ago, centre was excellently organised and I was in and out very quickly. I have been fortunate with no adverse reaction of any kind but we are all different and react in different ways. The order for getting the vaccination wasn't just about stopping the virus spreading, but about keeping the most at risk groups out of hospital and dying and taking some of the pressure off the NHS, however I do think they missed an opportunity to get school staff vaccinated over half term and before schools go back on 8th March, hopefully.

[Skodadet]

Had my AZ one on Tuesday. Sore arm within half an hour but not too bad. 12 hours later slightly raised temperature, felt unwell and very achy in all the usual PMR places. Took paracetamol every 6 hours. By 8am Thursday morning felt fine again although PMR aches slightly worse than usual. In my view well worth it.

[diana1998]

We had ours 5 weeks ago. No reaction whatsoever but I did take paracetamol afterwards on advice of my nurse neighbour. My husband took nothing as usual! In and out in 3 mins.

[Mondelo]

Just do it, it's the way out of this mess

[Retallack]

Had my Astrazeneca with no side effects at all. I followed Dr Michael Mosley's advice and ate live yoghurt a few days before and did arm exercises the day before (lots on youtube). Whether that made the difference i don't know but it won't do any harm.

[York54]

We had OAZ vaccine on Monday. Hubby had shivers in early hours of the next morning and we both felt extremely tired the next day, but apart from that, nothing. So glad to have it, one step nearer to some sort of normality , hopefully .

[SNOWYROSE]

I had my OAZ vax on just over week ago on11th Feb. No sore arm, or flulike symptoms, but it seems my usual morning PMR aches more intense since then. Am sticking with my pred dose of 19 (and tapering slowly to 181/2, ) and taking paracetemol on days when pains a bit sharper. Hope it all eases soon, and good luck with your vax and after, R

[2013mayo]

Hi I took a antihistamine tab before I went as I have so many allergies to med. I did have arm ache for about 3 days and a headache and nausea, but that only lasted for about 1/2 hour.

Hope it goes ok for you.

X

[Pixix]

Had mine...oaz...in Salisbury Cathedral yesterday...queuing round the cloisters, a beautiful place to go to, so many lovely volunteers. No problems at all.

[whitefishbay]

In London it is a postcode lottery...in Chelsea 50 year olds get the vaccine, Merton a 26 year old gets it ....Wandsworth where I live they are jabbing the 60 year olds. I am getting mine on Thursday (after ringing my GP surgery). Lucky me.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to whitefishbay]

Is the 26 year old perhaps not amongst the CEV group that should be eligible now?

[whitefishbay in reply to PMRpro]

They have lots of appointments available and she says she has asthma.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to whitefishbay]

Sadiq Khan had his this morning - asthma he said ...

[whitefishbay]

Haha. Typical. I have asthma, PMR, work in two secondary schools and with the homeless - no early jab but I am just thankful I will get it next Thursday.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to whitefishbay]

Bet he played a couple of cards there ...

[Sparrowxyz]

I had the first Moderna vaccine here in ClevelandOH on Tuesday. My rheumatologist told me because I’m on 12 mg of prednisone the vaccine will be less effective than in most people, but will still protect me better than no dose at all.

[AtopicGuy]

The injection site was sore for a few days, which has never happened with the flu jab, but otherwise it was fine. Looking forward to my second jab, which is booked 8 weeks after the first.

[johnybiker]

Had Pfizer 4 weeks ago. Absolutely no side effects for self and wife 76 and 78 both fine. Go get it😊

.

[Carrollee]

Hi. Am 65 and had my oxford vaccine Wednesday eve. All the 65-69 years olds and younger ones with underlying health issues were being called in from this Monday. All well organised, nice atmosphere. Temperature taken as I went thru the door. Out quickly. Next day felt a bit fluey, tired, headachy but nothing drastic and now Friday things fine. I live near oxford so I guess it was appropriate I had that particular vaccine 🤗.

Nothing to worry about. All the best cc

Ps nxt one beginning of may (12wks)