Reminder: No vaccine posts: Dear members, a polite... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

22,122 members•41,923 posts

Reminder: No vaccine posts

2 years ago•5 Replies

Dear members, a polite request for no more posts about vaccines - specifically querying whether you should have the next vaccine you are recommended.

We know that people can be anxious about another booster but how someone else responded to it - from sore arm to headache to PMR flare or no reaction at all - has no bearing on how the next person will respond. The question has been asked many times over with lots of replies and it's easy to search for them.

More posts simply generates more work for our volunteers and distracts from more pertinent questions and support around PMR and GCA.

If you want to find out about others' experiences - use the search facility (at the top or top/right depending on what device you are using) and type in covid vaccine and you will find lots of similar posts asking the same question with all the replies to read through.

Thank you for your understanding in keeping posts focused on PMR and GCA.

Fran

PS. Using the search facility is a great way of finding out information on any topic - there are very few questions that haven't been asked before.

Written by

Fran_Benson

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5 Replies

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PMR_sufferer12 years ago

The only point I would make Fran is that I have not seen anyone asking vaccine questions who dont ask for a good reason linked to or due to the fear of PMR or GCA.

Fran_BensonPartner• in reply toPMR_sufferer12 years ago

Absolutely, as mentioned in my post, we understand why people want to ask the question about whether to have another vaccine but nobody on the site can tell them that and the search facility will pull up previous posts and replies.

Vaccine related posts can also be quite long (which generates more emails for our volunteers) and they are also the ones that are most likely to result in abusive messages to admin which is something we would rather not have to deal with.

There will still be relevant questions about PMR or GCA which have a vaccine element to them which are fine, perhaps along the lines of, I had my booster two days ago and am experiencing particular aches does this sound like a flare?

PMR_sufferer1• in reply toFran_Benson2 years ago

Hi Fran i agree there is no excuse for abusive posts in any circunstances.However as you say you have not experienced PMR or GCA.

If you are 100% fit and healthy and have a Covid Shingles or Flu jab or all three and within a few weeks find your body has changed for the worse and you cannot move and are in utter agony its understandable some feel potential vaccine victims.

Mentioning a sore arm and a light headache lessons the importance of questioning vaccines. Even some NHS doctors agree and have seen a recent large increase in inflamation related diseases . PMR and GCA were around pre-covid and pre -vaccines.

I am sorry that volunteers are overwhelmed with posts on Vaccine Advice they do a wonderful job but having gone into this nightmare I understand why advise is sought from a wide range of experiences old and new.

I dont know the truth but we must allow people, in my opinion ,to seek advise and to seek help.

PMRproAmbassador• in reply toPMR_sufferer12 years ago

As someone who HAS PMR, who has had all the vaccines offered to me and who has read every single reply on every post, I can assure you that pretty much all of that has been covered repeatedly. The FAQs and the search facility would provide all that information IF people used it. But they don't, they ask another question, knowing it will be answered for them without them doing any work themselves. And more than 50% of the time, someone will intervene with a controversial antivax comment which is not allowed within the rules of the forum. And then it can descend into nastiness.

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply toPMR_sufferer12 years ago

but we must allow people, in my opinion ,to seek advise and to seek help.

No one is denying that -but as PMRpro and Fran say the information is invariably on the forum either in the FAQs or by using the search facility.

We do understand people are anxious- but all we are suggesting is a little time spent looking for the answer before asking a question is not unreasonable surely. If you cannot find the answer -then obviously ask,

Like PMRpro, I also read every post and every reply (that’s our choice we know that) .. so we are well aware the subject of Covid and vaccines has been addressed many times.