Has there been any research on the relationship of the onset of polymyalgia and COVID vaccines or is it too early?

[Hidcote]

My polymyalgia developed five weeks after an Astra Zeneca vaccination and a friend developed Arteritis with seven weeks of a vaccination. She intends to report this via the Yellow Card system. Has there been any suggestion that the vaccine could trigger the immune system?

[SnazzyD]

Any vaccine can because they are made to get the immune system on high alert to notice and react to the bits you want it to see. Probably too early for enough data but a few here have had first PMR or flare after it. However, you don’t know if the vaccine was just the straw that broke the camel’s back and it could have been some other stressor that did it. It seems to be common for there to be a string of life events, stress (mental or physical), infection or surgery to set the scene before a final insult. Definitely send in yellow card because it is the only way a true profile of risk will emerge.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I think it’s probably too early for any meaningful studies to have been carried out....

but there is anecdotal evidence and a few studies that show the influenza vaccine (which most covid vaccines are based upon) may trigger PMR and GCA in some patients and may also cause a flare in disease.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is really far too early to have gathered any figures but, as Snazzy has already said, it is a risk with any form of vaccination although some vaccines are more associated with certain things than others.

But my response to similar questions relating to "my PMR/GCA happened soon after x, y z ..." remains the same: there is no single identifiable cause of an autoimmune disorder and the general opinion is that it is the culmination of a lifetime of insults/stresses to the immune system and finally something is the final straw and it says sod it, and goes on a bender, turning into a monster that can't recognise you as self and so kicks and bites.

[Mrsd12f in reply to PMRpro]

“.... finally something is the final straw and it says sod it, and goes on a bender, turning into a monster that can't recognise you as self and so kicks and bites.”

Love it!😂

[bussell]

I think there is a study going on right now, report at the end of the year or early next year. My PMR seemed to be triggered within 24 hours of the first (Pfizer) vaccination. I did report it to the Yellow Card scheme and suggest you do too.

[piglette]

There is some information on the government website at:

gov.uk/government/publicati...

[Ebiker]

As stated by others it is too early to say but in my case there is a pattern of mini flares after flu jab and after (2 to 3 weeks) of both vaccines. PMR problems started initially a couple of days after a flu jab, although I did not know it was PMR until diagnosis in March 2019. I guess that PMR was lurking and the jab gave it a prod.Since then I have experienced PMR symptoms and minor setbacks with reducing after each flu or Covid jab, but nothing to be too concerned about now I am aware of it.

I had the Pfizer vaccine.

[Purplecrow in reply to Ebiker]

I, also, had flares after each injection. (Three Pfizer and 0ne Moderna). . I think I developed PMR 10 years ago, after 2 major surgeries, close together, (…..supporting the straw and camel back theory). All this being said, the subject is a great example of wholistic approach to the human body. Drop a pebble here and get a tsunami over there. Research is underway, would be nice to have our answer in this life time.🙈🙉🙊

[Viveka]

My GCA symptoms (swollen, sore TAs) appeared within a couple of days of the AZ vaccine and I was on Pred five days later. I had more low-level headaches as well as migraines in the month before, but no clear GCA symptoms.

[Buttonshutton]

Mine developed aster the AZ too. I am convinced it's not a coincidence. Was perfectly fine. Many others on here have said the same. Yes I had been stressed so could have been the final straw as others have said. I reported to the Yellow card system

[Miserere]

I also reported it on the Yellow card system - no coincidence, that's for sure - it was definitely the trigger but felt fine before. I did go through a period of stress but that was at least two years previously.