After Effects of AstraZeneca?

[Louisa1840]

Hello All,

I had my first AstraZeneca jab yesterday and spent the night shivering and aching . Today I have been VERY tired. I am beginning to feel a bit better. I should imagine the second dose in 3 months will not have such severe after effects?

How have others experienced after effects?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

AZ was used quite a lot for the NHS staff vaccinations and a lot of people complained about the side effects, especially after the first shot. My granddaughter who has asthma also told me she had quite a severe reaction to the AZ shot.

[Louisa1840 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you Pro - this does indeed show we are all different. I remember having a similar response to my first Aclasta ( bisphosphonate for weak bones) infusion some years ago. I had to do an ad for a TV commercial the next day in a FREEZING theatre and thought I was going to die! This time I made sure I had no commitments so I've been able to sleep most of the day....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Louisa1840]

The shivery bit seems particularly common.

[MrsNails]

Hi Louisa

Sorry to hear you didn’t feel so good after your Jab - l’ve had both my AZ & apart from feeling tired on the day both times & needing a nap again the following afternoon, it was totally unremarkable, same for my husband & he had Pfizer.

Just take it easy & rest until you feel better, don’t plan to do anything after your 2nd one & hopefully you’ll be OK 🙏🏼

Kind Regards

Angela 🌸

[Louisa1840 in reply to MrsNails]

Hi Angela. Thank you for kind and supportive comments as ever. It is interesting how we all have such an individual response. I am feeling a lot better now and know that, by tomorrow, I will be as hale & hearty as PMR allows!

[MrsNails in reply to Louisa1840]

I hope so 🙏🏼 if it’s any comfort my American Nurse Friend says a Reaction shows your body is responding to the Vaccine, so it’s actually a ‘good’ sign🙏🏼

Take Care & Keep as Well as Possible 🌸

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsNails]

Though to be fair, just to be confusing, no reaction doesn't mean you aren't developing an immune response

[MrsNails in reply to PMRpro]

That’s what l’m hoping 🙏🏼 we are all so different!

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Yes....if you recall, I posted that I'd experienced absolutely no reaction to my first AstraZeneca jab but remarkably I 'showed a clearly detectable level of antibodies against the virus that causes covid-19' after taking an antibody test.

[Highlandtiger in reply to Kendrew]

And I had a pretty strong reaction to AZ but the UK Biobank test showed I did not have a high enough level of antibodies to register...we're all different. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Kendrew in reply to Highlandtiger]

Very interesting. Still so much to learn.

[Rache]

Hi Louisa, I had the AZ vaccine and had only minimal side effects, a slight headache and a tender arm with the first jab and nothing at all with the second. As far as I know it has been mostly younger people who have suffered more unpleasant side effects with this jab, hence the results with some NHS staff. The good news is that the second AZ jab is said to have less risk of side effects than the first. Hope you continue to feel better. Some would think your reaction might mean you’ve had a stronger immune response but as yet this is not proven.

[Louisa1840 in reply to Rache]

Thank you so much! In an attempt to glean something positive, I liked your comments about the immune system response. I must say that my immune system seems very robust - my husband has head TWO colds in a month - me nothing!!

[Highlandtiger]

I had the same as you. Extreme shivering, chills and cold at night then fever then feeling generally rather tired and fluey for about three days.

[Coffeebeans]

I felt very like you and slept for around 24 hours then felt far better .

Had the second AZ last week and only felt a bit grumpy and headachy so fingers crossed the second is better for you.

[piglette]

You have had the sort of side effects suffered by many people. They are so much better than Covid though.

[Louisa1840]

Thank you to all who have replied. Oh! What would we all do without this forum?Day three and I'm feeling a lot better and I slept well. This however must be played for all it's worth and my dear husband is,as we speak, preparing my breakfast in bed......the hand upon the fevered brow!

[Pixix]

Nothing after first shot but same reaction as you describe after second shot. But would rather have 3 days like that than Covid!

[maria40]

I had very similar symptoms to you after my first dose. I've never felt so cold! After my 2nd nothing so hope you're the same.

[Louisa1840 in reply to maria40]

Hopefully Maria!!

[GrandmaPirate]

Shivering, 38°C of fever and PMR symptoms increased in the weeks thereafter. On 5th of July my second injection, which I will take in any way and if needed a 3rd one to boost later on this year.