I've had the call for my Spring covid booster, but unfortunately I can't have Spikevax (Moderna) as last time I was given it I spent the next 6mths sorting out a heart arrhythmia that seemed to have been triggered by it.
My cardiologist said he'd seen a really significant number of new patients, all experiencing palpitations/heart arrhythmias (mainly AFib) very shortly after having been given the Moderna booster.
My autumn booster was Cominarty (Pfizer) and I was completely fine after this.
The Spring booster being offered in my area seems to be Spikevax and despite contacting every pharmacy within a 15ml radius, contacting my own GP surgery and speaking to the NHS Covid helpline, no one seems able to help me. I constantly get told there's nothing I can do except "keep trying"!!
Yesterday I discovered that a well known high street chemist in town was offering Cominarty, but only privately!!
No price was yet known and I was told to phone back next week.
I'm completely perplexed.... and 'frustrated' doesn't even come close!
It would seem that job lots of one type of vaccine are distributed to certain areas of the country and which type you receive is dependent on this.
I'm really unsure what more I can do and wondered if anyone else is (or has been) in this situation themselves, and how did you resolve it please?
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Kendrew
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It’s difficult to know what to advise. I’ve had 1 Moderna, which made me very unwell , 6 Cominarity vaccines, having then caught Covid 2 weeks after the last one in October.
Needed IV antivirals after the second infection, hospital treatment and Dexamethasone for the first ,
I’ve found better results from treatment than the vaccines overall personally but we’re all different.
I wouldn’t have another Moderna, I’m clinging to the fact we’ve got until June. I’ve read there’s a new vaccine on the horizon too . Let us know how you get on xx
It really does make us feel very vulnerable , my feelings about it all are changing from one day to the next .
You certainly can’t have another Moderna after the advice of the cardiologist , but then I’d read the bivariant was different to the current vaccine.
The science minded group members will be more knowledgeable.
Very well done reducing to such a low dose , that’s wonderful news .
I can’t get below 7.5mg and am struggling with that . There’s never a right time with grief and fighting the hospital re: Mum’s care .
Take care and hopefully you’ll be able to pay privately if absolutely necessary , I have a feeling many of us won’t meet the criteria even though we’ve been on long term steroids.
I wish this Covid would just go away, we’re supposed to be starting a new wave xx
This excerpt may give you wriggle room - see underlined .
“Vaccines in use this spring
You will be given a booster dose of a vaccine made by Pfizer or Moderna and approved in the UK. These vaccines have been updated since the original vaccines and target a different COVID-19 variant. These updated vaccines boost protection well, and give slightly higher levels of antibody against the more recent strains of COVID-19 (Omicron).
As we cannot predict which variants of COVID-19 will be circulating this spring and summer, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have concluded that the vaccine used in the later weeks of the autumn 2023 programme should be used.
Please accept the vaccination that is offered to you as soon as you are able to – you will be offered the right vaccine for you at the right time.
Who cannot take up the offer of a spring booster
There are very few eligible people who should not have a dose this spring. If you have had a severe reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine you should discuss this with your doctor.”
I don’t think there’s an easy answer really because as per usual it depends on the person. I had Cominarty and had big issues with neurological issues and cardiac arrhythmia. After the third one I decided no more boosters; it was too scary. My healthy husband was very poorly after both Modernas and was fine with Cominarty. From giving vaccines for years you can’t predict who will react badly and who won’t, even when people come in saying they “react to everything” didn’t mean they would to a particular vaccine.
more links between bad side effects and various Covid jabs seem to be coming out. The three I had triggered my RA in the first place. How prevalent is actual Covid where you are? How bad would it to just not have it? Bearing in mind that the jab never actually stopped you getting Covid, it just helped make it less affecting.
I’m in the same situation. I had Pfizer for my first four injections and was fine. Then I had Moderna and got PMR. It may have bee a coincidence but I’m not prepared to take the risk. The clinic says they never know what their next batch is going to be. Do I keep booking an appointment and then refusing it when I get there? I just don’t know what to do.
I have a friend who developed psoriatic arthritis shortly after receiving his first Covid vaccination booster (not sure which one). His rheumy told him to avoid any further booster shots.
I hope you find the Pfizer. I had the same experience last autumn 2023, when everywhere seemed to be offering only the Pfizer. I wanted the Moderna and couldn't find anywhere that was giving it despite phoning up loads of pharmacies and walk-ins. So I ended up choosing not to have it last autumn, and caught covid for the first time. It was fairly mild luckily. This spring it does seem that the Moderna is the main vaccine of use, so I was pleased and had it on friday. Felt a bit rough yesterday but fine today.
I got PMR in late 2021 soon after my first covid booster, which was Pfizer, which is why I was reluctant to have it again. In spring 2022 my local walk in happened to be giving the Moderna booster so was happy to have that when on pred with PMR, and was fine. This year I now have GCA and am back on pred.
There is no easy way to find out which vaccine is being given where, other than phoning round and asking around, which you have done. I would phone up the specific Boots pharmacy you book with though, to double check which vaccine they are giving.
Keep trying. I had the Moderna nearly 2 weeks ago and felt awful for days. All my hot sweats have come back but no pain. I won't ever have Moderna again though..
I’ve booked through Pharmadoctor (thanks to Dorset Lady!) you can choose from 2 different vaccines, the cost appears to be £45. I was invited for an NHS vax, but when they found out I’m on less than 10mg, & under 75, I was refused by the pharmacy I attended. Nearest pharmacy to me is 45 minutes drive, but you may be luckier. I’ve booked for Wednesday afternoon this week, & already promised to give feedback. I have had no reactions to the other 7, & I’ve had pfizer, Astra zeneca & Moderna, so I’ve ticked ‘no preference’, but there is a place to select which one you want onthe booking form! Boots aren’t offering it in my area, I would have to drive over an hour to get to Boots! Good luck, S x
My dear Kendrew, I also had a huge reaction to Moderna two years ago and ended up in hospital overnight. My hubby three days ago had a really bad reaction too——- he was all floppy, very confused and really very Ill for 36 hours. I will never have it again. There is no Pfizer within 30 miles of us in the North East and probably further so I am going to have to go privately to Boots and pay £99 for Pfizer . The Boots in my city are getting it in from 13th May.
It is very wrong IMHO. Sending love xxxx
PS. Pharmadoctor didn’t offer me Pfizer, only Novavax ( a new type of vaccine like the flu vaccines) or Moderna
Hope you get a resolution to this problem. Just for the record, it was later, after two Moderna, that I realized some minor heart symptoms became noticeable enough to trigger my actually mentioning them to my son who insisted I tell my doctor. Since then I've had Pfizer autumn dose (had to wait as Moderna only thing available for some time, but by then I'd made decision to avoid Moderna at all costs), and most recently, with some difficulty, managed to score Novavax.
It was fine. Just enough of a reaction to know I'd actually received a dose, but no more than achy sensation when I touched the area of upper arm. Maybe a day and even that was gone? No achiness, no fluey feeling, nothing at all. I've had two Pfizer between Moderna and Novavax, and they were similarly without reaction. Mind you, I don't remember any particular reaction to the flu and RSV vaccines I had last fall either.
Hi, So far my Covid vaccines have been Astra Zeneca x 2 and Pfizer x 8. I’m fortunately not in your situation having had a bad reaction to a Moderna vaccine but I want to stay with Pfizer if possible. I’ve rung 5 pharmacies in my area and they are all only offering Moderna.
I’m booked in next Tuesday for the Moderna and getting very anxious about it. I think I’m going to cancel and do a bit more research. I don’t really want to pay £98 when the NHS are saying it is available free but that’s what I might have to do.
I hope you can resolve the issue and get a Pfizer shot soon.
Hi Kendrew, like you I have a problem with the moderna and we also seem to just have this dished out, even though there's alot of people that carn't take it nobody is taking any responsibility for the minority, I have been past from pillow to post time and time again, I have just however decided to ring the walk in centre where they seemed very helpful and they told me they were doing the Astrogenica, told me to ring 119 and re book with them, so I am having it Thursday , don't give up, ring around and ask the big walk in centres, they are very helpful and might know if the opposite one's too them are doing a different vaccine. Hope you find one, good luck 🤞X
Hope this info helps…I had my Private Covid jab this afternoon. Drove 45 minutes each way, through a hectic city I’ve never driven through before, & paid £80 for my chosen vaccine…Pfizer. Same price for others, too. A tiny pharmacy in a suburb with an entrance area about 8’ x 8’…then I go a room only 8’ x 8’ with a large desk in it, for the actual injection. The pharmacist & the guy who did the injection read my list of diseases & the drugs I take & said it was disgusting that a pharmacist refused me a vaccine, & they could try &help me to get one through the NHS. I declined, pointing out the mileage, the time & the diesel it would take for me to return, thanked them very much & had the injection! An excellent service, & no queue, the whole place to myself!
Did you find one? I wont take Moderna either and this time it seems to be having MORE reactions in people. I am due... but have been putting it off. the strain is not so bad this time around I am told. And no one around me seems to have it. Maybe I am a fool but holding off. I dont suppose the last 7 shots or whatever it's been still have some sway??
It's a quandary. Every country seems to be different, I had to wait two months longer than my eligibility allowed in order to get Pfizer last fall, because Moderna was all that was available at first. This spring I had Novavax, at some inconvenience. I keep hearing that Novavax has a broader effect than the mRNA vaccines, so it may be more effective against newer variants, and the immunity, such as it is, lasts longer, so it's a bit of a puzzle as to why it isn't more widely distributed. The person who was about to give me my shot in the spring actually told me it wasn't recommended by Health Canada (although it is approved by Health Canada, go figure 🤷♀️). Why would she want to discourage me? She already knew how much trouble we'd gone to to get there, I'd just told her!
I haven't found anywhere at all offering Pfizer on the NHS, and just one place offering it privately at a cost of almost £100! I feel loathe to pay when I'm entitled to a free vaccination. No one.....Not even the NHS covid vaccination helpline can help me. So frustrating.
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