Covid Vax and age

[MrsMarigold]

I’m in the US and have lupus and many other disqualifying illnesses 😊. I just read a thread in which folks thought their PMR began with Covid jabs. After 3 Moderna, and 3 bouts of Covid I don’t think I want to get vaccinated again. But then there’s flirt. I have 2 grandchildren ages 5 and 4 with long covid. Heartbreaking. I’m very curious to know the ages of folks who think their autoimmune conditions started with the vaccine. Could you list your age and which vaccine you got? It is terribly controversial in US now. I am 67 years old and my immune system is poor lol but I made it through three times although the last hung on a few months. Thx. Oh and that’s my Teddy on a good hair day.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What is disqualifying about having lupus etc? As I understand it, the vaccine is even more important when you have a variety of comorbidities.

[MrsMarigold in reply to PMRpro]

Lupus and other AI diseases are not disqualifying as I’m talking”tongue in cheek” it is only disqualifying to other well people who do not understand chronic illness.

The vaccine is important with our vulnerabilities however some people state that their illness began with a Covid vaccine. This may be true as there is information out there to support it. I’m interested in knowing if there is a correlation of age to the vaccination. I’m interested to know why folks say no to the vaccines.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsMarigold]

My line is "If the vaccine triggered this, what would Covid have done?"

[Booch in reply to MrsMarigold]

I learned PMR is listed as a side effect to some vaccines. I had vaccines and developed PMR 8 months later. I doubt there is a connection but have read too many posts about booster flare ups. No thank you - not in this lifetime.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Booch]

It isn't really a side effect - what happens is that the immune system is triggered by the vaccine and may well be the final straw we often talk about. If it weren't the vaccine, it could be the illness it is protect you from or any other event that affects the immune system - chemical, environmental, ippness, trauma.

[MrsMarigold]

Well, no disrespect intended but a lot of information is out there now about the vaccine causing health problems. As I said, my grandchildren were totally vaxxed and have long covid. My 93 year old father also up to date on vaccines died in September. And me struggled with it 3 times but I’m back to my “baseline health.” Perhaps more important than vaccination is staying home more and declining social engagements. I don’t know.

[Bcol in reply to MrsMarigold]

If your immune system is under pressure then it's possible/quite likely that anything extra will tip it into PMR or similar, the chances are though that Covid itself is likely to have an even worse effect. I'm in my seventies and had PMR before any vaccinations and so far I've had seven or eight, maybe nine (lost count) as well as flu jabs and had no adverse reactions. Also had a very mild dose of Covid. In the end though it's a personal choice now. It is worth remembering that having the vaccine won't necessarily stop you catching Covid but it will make it's effect less nasty.

[MrsMarigold in reply to Bcol]

Yes. I agree vaccine can make response to Covid lighter. Good advice. You sound well! That’s wonderful

[Booch in reply to Bcol]

not 100% true. my friend had all vaccines and died of Covid. only health issue was overweight

[Bcol in reply to Booch]

I'm very sorry to hear that, but as in all things there is always something/someone, in this case someone, which is contrary to expectation. It doesn't make it any easier to understand or deal with though.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsMarigold]

But by no means as many as Covid itself has done.

[agingfeminist]

I think on balance the vaccination should be taken...if PMR followed a jab then it was probably going to succumb to some other trigger....Getting covid now is not a good idea...get the jab.

[MrsMarigold in reply to agingfeminist]

Ok. Thx for your reply.

[Animalover65]

Teddy is beautiful! I think my PMR may have been triggered by the Astra Zenica jab when I was 65. Had several different jabs after that with just things like sore arm or feeling tired effects but nothing major. I do not qualify for a jab this time round as off steroids. But going to follow PMRpros method of carry a mask around in case of encountering people with coughs and sneezes. I also carry antibac gel in my bag and in the car.

[MrsMarigold in reply to Animalover65]

Thx. Teddy is a kindred spirit!! I’m sorry about tracing your PMR to a jab. I’m not familiar with your system “off steroids so not eligible for jab.” I understand what you are saying. Here in US everyone is eligible. Yes the mask and gel is in my car. Unfortunately here wearing a mask is frowned on by many. Does not stop me; it’s just ignorance of people who do not consider chronically ill people .

[Sharitone]

In the UK, if you are immune-suppressed you get an antiviral when you get Covid. Several of us here have had that. It cuts Covid right off. Is that not available to you?

Beautiful dog, btw, and I hope your grandchildren's experience of Long Covid is not very long.

[MrsMarigold in reply to Sharitone]

Thx for good wishes about grandkids. It’s still very rough right now. I did take the antiviral the second time I had it. It did decrease symptoms but after the script was up Covid washed all over me. Thankfully it was a 2 week thing. Thx on Teddy. I have 2 others, same breed but different colors. Ted and I just hit it off!

[Koalajane]

I got PMR before Covid arrived. I have had all the vaccinations offered and they have not caused a problem. Not sure if I have had Covid, if I have it was very mikd

[MrsMarigold in reply to Koalajane]

Thx for your reply. I know others who have mild to no symptoms. Do they have super immune systems do you think?

[nallufl24]

I’m in the US too. I started problems with GCA before I got the Covid vaccine. I was 69. I got the vaccine as soon as it came out because so many people were dying not just here but all over the world. I’m glad I got it. I did get Covid while on Prednisone and my symptoms were very mild.

Of course mistakes were made during the entire pandemic because this was something we were not prepared for. However, the only controversy was and still is conspiracy theorists and politicians who made it controversial.

[MrsMarigold in reply to nallufl24]

I’m sorry for your illness. I know I planned to be a very healthy grandmother. You are so right about conspiracy theories and politics. Thx for answering

[tiredandwired1]

I'm in the US and am 62 yo. I have psoriatic arthritis for which I take a biologic medication and have struggled with every covid vaccine, to the point of needing to go on pred 3x to knock down my immune sx. reaction. I was diagnosed with PMR a year ago but the symptoms ramped up shortly after my 4th vaccine in Nov. 2022. Because I have significant cervical spine deterioration as well as deterioration of tendons in both shoulders, it was hard for me to recognize what was happening until the symptoms clearly informed me that my inflammation markers were elevated.

I got the Novavax vaccine in April, about 2 weeks after the pred taper and had no issues. I will continue to get this booster, as the mechanism of action does not appear to prime my immune system like the mRNA technology.

[MrsMarigold in reply to tiredandwired1]

So if I read you right, the vaccine may have played a part in PMR diagnosis or at least ramped the immune system enough to bring things forward? Since Covid, for me, I have added to my list of autoimmune conditions and waiting for the results of what looks like psoriasis. We have a lot in common. My entire cervical spine is fused and I am scheduled to have a second surgery on my right shoulder in July. This has absolutely nothing to do with this thread but I will share: I try to wear something I feel absolutely beautiful in every day. Life is too short to wait to wear “the occasion dress.” I have an occasion every day……..except when I can’t get out of bed😂

[Temoral in reply to MrsMarigold]

Agree...don't save clothes for best...every day is your best day! 👌

[tiredandwired1]

I believe that the vaccine played a role just as much as I believe that getting COVID would have played a role. I have not had COVID, still mask but also live a full life. Maybe my over active immune system is a protective factor, but more to the point, the Novavax vaccine appears to be less stimulating so far.

[MrsMarigold]

I will have to read up on the Novavax vaccine thank you

[Catseyes235]

Of the millions of people given the vaccines a proportion will inevitably develop certain conditions which they would have developed regardless of covid or vaccines. We do like to make causal links when we get illnesses but it’s probably coincidence … but like MMR vaccines being given just before the time in life when children are picked up as autistic. Long covid is a different matter and hope your grandchildren recover soon.

[MrsMarigold]

I think I started this thread hoping some folks post science based evidence of vaccine as cause of autoimmune diseases or not. Some medical publications can not be copied. I’m going to try to paste some. When Covid began, we were lied to and it was a political issue that interfered with our safety and health. xxMM

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MrsMarigold]

This study [US based] does give some figures... and for all reputable studies you should be able to link the basic information. Some may be behind paywalls, but then it's up to you, or anyone else to decide if they want to pay to access full study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/385...

The reported rates of PMR and GCA cases after C-19 vaccination are probably in line with other vaccinations - as we are all aware in some people any vaccination may be the final trigger to an already stress autoimmune system.

I know you are upset because your family sems to have been disproportionately affected by C-19 as a whole, but maybe that's just your familial make-up, not a lot can be done about that.

Not sure that you can claim we were all deliberately lied to, there was a lot of confusion in the beginning... from everyone, and there certainly may have been mixed messages.

As to a political issue please be aware that Para 7 of the Community Guidelines includes this statement -

Content should also not include religious or political views.

[MrsMarigold]

science.org/content/article...

[MrsMarigold]

Thx for your response Dorset Lady. Yes my family it’s true had been hit hard with Covid. Although not all; my son’s kids got it and they are all fine. My intent is not to throw out conspiracy theories or anything the like except pure science. And as you say, unfortunately we are left to pay for the subscription to have full access. Last, I did not state political views as I’m aware of these guidelines. In The US it is a known fact the people were not given the entire truth; therefore unable to make informed choices based on the true science. I will read your article. MM