PMR after Covid vaccine?

[YogaJM]

I am very much FOR vaccines, but I have noted that my PMR symptoms started shortly after a Moderna booster. Previous AZ, AZ, Pfizer vaccines were fine. Has anyone received any likely confirmation, particularly from a Rheumatologist that their Covid vaccine may have triggered PMR? If so, what advice have you received about further Covid boosters? Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

ANY vaccine can be the final trigger for PMR - it is due to the accumulation of stresses on the immune system throughout life and eventually the immune system can't take any more and goes haywire, unable to recognise the body as self so it attacks tissues in error, causing inflammation in specific places - which autoimmune disorder you are diagnosed with depends on which tissues are affected. These stresses on the immune system include illness, injury, stresses of all sorts, physical, mental, emotional, environmental and chemical stress - and chemical stress includes vaccines which are designed to affect the immune system and drugs. In your case - it was the Covid jab that did it but if it hadn't been that it might have been the flu jab, the flu, Covid - or a host of other things that was the next thing you met.

I had a flare after the second Moderna jab, nothing after the 2 Pfizer jabs until I had the bivalent booster in November and that seems to have made my existing atrial fibrillation much worse - on the other hand, I have two friends whose a/f suddenly became much worse and it was nothing to do with vaccines of any sort, it happens.

I am not sure about another jab, I will see the cardiologist next week.

[YogaJM in reply to PMRpro]

thanks for that.

[piglette]

Pfizer actually admit that the vaccine could trigger PMR, I believe it is on their website.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

The Moderna-triggered PMR flare was a doddle compared with this a/fib!

[YogaJM in reply to piglette]

Thanks, do you know what is the advice as to whether you should have further such boosters?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YogaJM]

I had a flare with the second jab - I had 2 more without any detrimental effect on the PMR

[piglette in reply to YogaJM]

I had an antibody blood test done and I have loads of anti-bodies!! I was so ill after my last Pfizer vaccine I am none too keen on having another one.

[Bcol]

Think I've had two OAZ, two Pfizer and one Moderna Bivalent, that was the last one, with no after effects from any of them.

[PRL1957 in reply to Bcol]

Most people will be OK with the vaccines - otherwise, they would have not progressed past phase 1 trials. Unfortunately, that is of little worth to those of us who have already been adversely affected - in my case, following the 2nd Pfizer-BioNTech dose. It is also no guarantee of how you will be after another dose.

[Bcol in reply to PRL1957]

I think you are right, it is one of those areas which becomes an individual choice. So far I've had no problems with Covid or flu vaccinations but I know there are many not in that situation.

[Downtime]

I think my third vaccine caused my PMR. I also have RA which started 8 years ago after a flu vaccine which gave me all sorts of side effects. I’ve decided not to have any more vaccines. I’ve had covid and I’m not worried about getting it again so I’m not having any more boosters.

[Seacat30]

I fell ill suddenly 5 days after the first AstraZeneca. Nobody in the NHS has admitted the connection but that does not surprise me. They did, however, refer me to Rheumatology unusually fast. I suspect that was because of the vaccine 'link'. I have had 5 vaccines: 2 AZ, 1 Pfizer, 1 Moderna, 1 Pfizer Bivalent. Neither my age nor my medications entitle me to a Spring 2023 booster. I am glad not to have to make a decision as to whether to have another jab or leave a 12 month gap. I might only start again if the vaccines are improved so they last far longer. I won't have any flu vaccines after this experience.

[PRL1957]

Yes, my PMR started after my 2nd Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. (And my daily temperature record confirms cause and effect.)

I told my rheumatologist, who confirmed that other similar cases have been seen. There are also similar accounts in the scientific and medical literature.

So, I have not had any further vaccinations and am still relying on other precautions (masks, alcohol gel, hygiene and social distancing), but I suspect a Covid infection would cause me problems - possibly including the autoimmune 'long covid' symptoms.

Unfortunately, because our situations and metabolisms are different, my experience may be of only limited use for you.

[Hidden]

My rheumatologist is convinced, because of the timing that my first Astra Zeneca jab was the cause of my PMR. As the vaccines have been such a wonderful thing for most people I prefer not to make it an issue.

[YogaJM in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely, I agree. My main concern is in deciding what to do about further Covid boosters and flu jabs. Interested to hear others decisions.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to YogaJM]

I think everyone has to mke their own decision based on their own past experiences with the vaccines and their future circumstances.

[HeronNS]

Maybe Moderna bivalent exacerbated some incipient heart issues I've been developing over time? Timing suggests this possible. I've had Pfizerx3, Moderna booster and Moderna bivalent. Heart symptoms coincided with first Moderna vax, something I noted months after the fact, but can confirm the timing because of conversations with my son and, at his urging, my GP and being sent for tests, scans. Hadn't even thought of it at first so went ahead with the Moderna bivalent rather than holding out for the updated Pfizer.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

I had the updated Pfizer - has been interesting ...

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

This may be moot as so far we've not heard anything about ongoing boosters.