Hello everyone, I'm new here and just trying to find some information for my mum. She has polymyalgia and was on a high (don't know the number I'm afraid) dose of steroids at the time of getting both vaccines, so it seems possible that they will not have been effective.
I'm worried because my 5 year old and I live with her and covid now seems to be running through my son's school pretty much unchecked. I'm trying to find out how I can get her another vaccination but I can't get an appointment to speak to my GP about it for another 2 weeks. I was wondering if anyone on here has any ideas about how to proceed? It must be quite a niche group of people who were taking a high dose of steroids but have now reduced them so I've been struggling to find any information.
Thanks in advance.
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kkkmc
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I am pretty much new here but think it might be useful if you could find out what dose your mum was on when she was vaccinated and what she is on now. That might help others to advise.
Not sure that you can request another vaccine if she has had both….they are looking at bringing in a booster soon, and I’m sure she will be able to get that.
The consensus of opinion is that although she will not be as well protected as someone whose immune system is not compromised, she will still be afforded some protection.
You may be able to get an antibody test for her to check the situation, maybe look online, Some on here have had it done via the Zoe COVID Symptoms study app - covid.joinzoe.com
I’m guessing you’ve had both vaccines, and are still adhering to the usual procedures for protecting your family.
There is discussion that only the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable may get a Booster Vaccine, so was she classed as CEV or CV during Lockdown ie was she Officially on the Shielded List? You need to know her dose & how long she has been on Steroids plus if she has any other underlying conditions which may push her into CEV - we can help with that.
I am following this closely as l was/am CEV but unsure about a Booster Dose anyway….
Thank you so much for your responses. I will need to find out more from her about her doses and get back to you.
I am vaccinated and we are being cautious in our social interactions outside the house, but my main concern is that the kids at school aren't being required to isolate or take a PCR test when someone in their class tests positive so I feel as though it's only a matter of time until my son gets Covid. We are testing at home and opening windows/avoiding hugs etc but it's not ideal!
Hi kkkmc. The situation you're in is unenviable and it must be so hard for you all. All you can do is to carry on taking the sensible precautions you mention.
I just checked with my mum and she started off on 15mg in July 2020 and was slowly reducing until she developed giant cell arteritis and went up to 60mg in Feb 2021. Unfortunately this was just a few weeks before she had her first vaccination. By the time she had her second vaccination in April she was on 20mg which has been slowly reducing and now she's on 9mg.
She's still on the shielding list but I'm not sure if she's classed as CEV or CV.
I'm still trying to contact her GP and consultant as I just feel sure that there must be someone who can just make the decision that she can 'start again' with the vaccinations, or at least get a booster. Perhaps we would have to wait until her steroid dose has reduced further. Kate
There is research being done at the moment on the effects of the Vaccine on Immuno Compromised Patients - so you will see Information on that crop up on here.
I have myself sent off a blood sample today to be checked for Antibodies & will post the results in a week or so.
Something you may wish to consider when your Son comes home from school is for him to change out of his school uniform & wash his hands thoroughly. A friend had her Mum do this with her little one when she was undergoing Chemo - it may not help but you feel as you are doing something.
Also I just wanted to say, I created my profile in a rush, with other things on my mind. Please be assured that it's definitely not a reference to the kkk. I'll change it if I can figure out how!
I don't think she will get both vaccinations again, as many are in the same boat, I think your best bet is to see if she would be on the list for the booster when it becomes available. The government are also rolling out antibody tests soon as well as antigen, so it might be worth getting one of those when they are easily available to see if she has any antibodies which might ease your worries. You can only do your best, and it sounds like that you have covered everything you can. It's such a worry, I know, but remember to look after you too.
I will also throw out there that some of us had major flare ups of our condition after being vaccinated. So there is that to consider as well. Personally, I would try to get the antibody test before getting a booster as the 8-week flare I had with the vaccine was pretty bad. I don’t want to go through that again unnecessarily.
I would be interested in participating in a survey (in this group) on this issue. How many of us had flares immediately after receiving the initial doses of the vaccine? I wonder. My own experience was no flare. I was on 10 mg prednisone at the time.
I live in the U.S. and received the third vaccine 2 weeks ago, also with no flare so far.
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