COVID time again

[Harrywogan]

Hubby got COVID jab on Saturday and on Sunday in bed and that's strange for him ,he's a big guy 6ft 2in and a good healthy build, sister also got her COVID and she was in bed as well, nurse told hubby it was stronger this time, puts me off a little with having PMR andGCA don't want to flare, any of you lovely people had any problems thinking it was moderma all other were Pfizer don't know if the change makes a difference xx

[yogabonnie]

I haven't any first hand experience but I do know MODERNA much stronger than Pfizer. If you do go stick to Pfizer. I am in US and had to find a pharmacy with Pfizer. Not so easy last time. I am due again for shot going to wait a bit. Hope he feels better soon!

[Harrywogan in reply to yogabonnie]

Thank you so very much, did here you can't get Pfizer here now don't know if that's true. Take care IAM in rainy Scotland xx

[Kendrew in reply to Harrywogan]

Only seems to be Moderna being offered around the Essex area where I live.... apart from one larger branch of a well known high street chemist in Colchester that is offering Pfizer (privately) at a cost of almost £100's!

I've contacted every pharmacy/walk in facility within a 15ml radius of my home, and all offering Moderna.

Unfortunately, I can't have that as I spent nearly 6mths under the care of a cardiologist with heart arrhythmias following a previous Moderna vaccination, and he advised me strongly not to have it again.

Moderna is known to have the potential to cause stronger side effects in some people but we're all different and many people, like Bcol, find they are perfectly fine with it.

Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing how you'll react beforehand!

If anyone knows of anywhere offering Pfizer within a reasonable distance to myself, (Colchester) I'd be most grateful.

My own GP is unable to help me, as is anyone I've spoken to on the NHS vaccination helpline number!

I'm loathe to pay for the vaccination when I'm entitled to the free NHS one.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

Have you asked the cardiologist? Though I had the bivalent jab 18 months ago which triggered awful atrial fibrillation episodes that did improve with a different antiarrythmic drug and went altogether after the ablation - I still had the Covid jab on offer this last autumn (before the ablation) and didn't even get a sore arm worth mentioning and no cardiac problems at all. Not sure which it was, both the same manufacturer though.

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Hi Pro,

Yes, I asked him about this at my final appointment with him.

He just advised to steer clear of moderna and because my issues are still related to harmless ectopic beats, didn't want to change anything related to my medication.

He felt another Moderna might trigger something more than double ectopics next time though and said it wasn't worth the risk so have Pfizer.

As you know, I'm finding that easier said than done!

[Pixix in reply to Kendrew]

I paid to have Pfizer. I’ve never had Moderna, but despite three invitations from the NHS to have my jab because I may still be vulnerable, I was turned down by the pharmacy where I made the appointment. Anybody under 20mg for three months forsn5 get the jab, he told me! So I went through Pharmadoctor & paid £80. I had a choice of pfizer or Moderna. I had to drive 45 minutes through a city I didn’t know (Southampton), but the pharmacy was empty & the two staff very pleasant indeed. He agreed that I’m vulnerable with my 12 diseases, & understood when I explained I hav3 so many acute conditions I want my Dr to help me with, I decided not to bother him with this issue! They have a lot of places in Essex…just put your postcode into pharma Doctor Covid vaccinations bit, & you will see. It seems a lot of money, but I don’t drink alcohol, we won £400 on the premium bonds last month, & I’m happy I can ‘tick it off the list’! It was a good experience. Pharmadoctor check your medical health, what drugs you take etc etc. S x

[Kendrew in reply to Pixix]

Thankyou for that. I'll definitely explore that option.

[Pixix in reply to Kendrew]

It was DorsetLady who put the link in a post about it all two weeks ago! I can’t take the credit!

[Tiggy70 in reply to Kendrew]

Hi Kendrew, I remember your post recently about the Moderna vaccine. Where I live only Moderna was being offered. My six previous boosters had been Pfizer and I wanted to stick with the devil I knew. My husband drove me 15 miles to Boots at Milton Keynes and I paid a whopping £98.95!! I just had a sore arm for a couple of days.

[Harrywogan in reply to Tiggy70]

Hi Tiggy was thinking of doing the same, concerned about flaring xx

[Bcol]

I had the Moderna version in April with no problems.

[Harrywogan in reply to Bcol]

Good to know Bcol, I don't want to have a flare xx

[Main1234]

I paid privately ( under age and live with severely immune suppressed partner) and had the Novavax. I paid just over £60 . No side effects at all. Partner had the Moderna no side effects just usual morning in bed and a bit of fatigue recovered quickly.

[Harrywogan in reply to Main1234]

Hi main, do you need to be certain age to go private xx

[Main1234 in reply to Harrywogan]

No not at this clinic I don’t think. I am 70. They did ask for GP details and went through medical stuff.

[Harrywogan in reply to Main1234]

Did thy ask how many Pred you were on xx

[Main1234 in reply to Harrywogan]

Hi it’s my partner who is on medication not me. I had the jab to protect him. He is on MMF and no prednisone.

[Harrywogan in reply to Main1234]

Thanks so much hope all well x

[Jayneywales]

I had the jab - 59 years young. Had the shivers and felt like I had been run over for 24 hours but right as rain after that. Rather that than Covid again

[Harrywogan in reply to Jayneywales]

No flare then xx

[Jayneywales in reply to Harrywogan]

No - thanks goodness

[Greensleeves]

We can only get the Moderna here , none of the Pharmacies know anywhere that has Pfizer. I have preciously only had Moderna once and really don’t want to go through that again but neither would I want Covid . The autumn vaccine did nothing to lessen its effects, only the IV antivirals helped . It’s a tough call to make.

[Poshcards in reply to Greensleeves]

My GP said Pfizer wasn't available anywhere x

[Greensleeves in reply to Poshcards]

I’ve found a pharmacist who can supply Pfizer and Noravax privately thank you Posh , but why should we have to pay and travel. I don’t know why the government/health agencies haven’t bought Pfizer for us .

Thank you for your support x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Greensleeves]

I don’t know why the government/health agencies haven’t bought Pfizer for us .

This link shows what vaccines are available this spring - and Pfizer is one of them…

gov.uk/government/publicati...

See this re obtaining vaccines privately -

pharmaceutical-journal.com/...

[herdysheep]

Most of my jabs were Pfizer. I had 1 Moderna a while ago and then again this last time. Last one less reaction than previous one. My arm was much worse after Shingrix. Didn't have a choice. Not sure it is recognised we are all different, and def not necessarily catered for even if there is a strong medical reason not to have one version or the other!

[Harrywogan in reply to herdysheep]

Well I hate to think I'll take a flare herdysheep xx

[gingerraspiller]

The original covid boosters Moderna had 3 times the active ingredient compared to Pfizer. I did not know this until after I got PMR. My first 3 covid shots were Pfizer. I decided to mix it up to increase my immunity so for my 4th shot, I got the Moderna. I always felt bad after any of the covid shots but after Modera, it was much worse. The normal joint pain and stiffness started and never went away. Within 2 weeks, any time I sat or kneeled in the garden for any period of time I was so stiff I could barely straighten. up. My doctor diagnosed PMR a month and a half later. It has taken me 2 years to taper down to 1.5 mg and I am struggling with sluggish adrenal gland function. I do not plan to expose my body to another covid shot - I don't think my body can take it. I assume I would completely relapse. I have not gotten covid but if I could go back in time you bet I would not get that Moderna shot! Good luck.

[HeronNS in reply to gingerraspiller]

Interesting. I was longtime PMR patient when SARS2 came along and first 3 vax were Pfizer. Thought I'd change things up for the 4th and had Moderna, Reacted strongly but it didn't seem to affect PMR significantly. A few months later had 2nd Moderna and it was after that I began to make some connections. I'd long had sort of vague heart-related symptoms which after Moderna 1 got strong enough for me to mention to a family mmemebr who ordered me to see Dr, which I did and a bunch of tests were ordered. I do have some sort of heart condition but have to say they've settled back down to the sort of background level they were before Moderna. Since then I've had 2 more Pfizer, no reaction at all, and most recently Novavax (which was hard to access), just a mild bruised feeling in upper arm for few hours.

[Poshcards]

Had mine a few weeks ago, had a searing headache for a few days and very sore arm, but no heat to it like Pfizer and I am allergic to most drugs but after a few days felt ok! My flu jab was the worst x