I had Pfizer jabs. After the first, I had a sizeable lump at the injection site. This was really tender. I also had mild flu like symptoms. These lasted ten days. I thought given my usual problems with meds I d got away with it very light!
My second jab, back in April was a different story. Within an hour pain had moved up my arm, across my shoulders, into my neck and down my other arm. I ve never experienced muscle aches so severe. I also felt really unwell - nauseous, really tired and " hungover" . It was six weeks before I even began to feel better. I did a yellow card. My upper arms and shoulders have not stopped aching since. Nothing like as bad as it was but a constant ache and pain when I reach to get anything. I have been diagnosed with long Covid following Covid in February last year. The muscle aches may be from that but I didn't have them before the second jab.
I was offered the booster last month but have ignored it. I can't face being so unwell again. Recent developments are causing me to stress about not having it. I contacted my GP, who was no help! He told me I could have Pfizer at the surgery or go a couple of miles to another centre and have Pfizer or possibly be allowed Moderna.
Do I have the right to insist on a particular vaccine?
Has anyone else suffered side affects? If so have you had the booster?
Which vaccine should I have?
I d really appreciate some advice
Written by
dizzy864
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hi Dizzy, It is my understanding that the booster jab should be different to the first two that you have had already and that has certainly been the case for myself and the others that I've seen on the forum poll here on Health Unlocked which Red Apple is running. It would be worth you taking a look because you will see that everyone's experiences are different so it would be impossible to advise you what is the best to have or whether you even get a choice. My first two were AZ and my booster was Pfizer which had me in bed for a day feeling fluey and ill with the usual sore arm but personally I'm still glad that I've had it with yet another variant of covid taking off in the UK. Hope this helps!
All three of mine have been Pfizer. No problems of any sort with any of them - first time I had a tiny blue mark where the needle went in - no blood involved and the next two I couldn’t even see where the needle went in. Some people I know have had sore arms for a while, others have been like me.
I thought the third one was either Pfizer or Moderna (or that was what was on my form when I booked it) but I don’t know for certain.
Pfizer is the default whether you had AZ or Pfizer previously. I believe those who had a bad reaction to Pfizer can behave AZ as a booster. Try ringing the number you book the jab on (I’ve forgotten it) and see what they say.
I did ring that number to ask whether I could have the AZ booster as I had allergy concerns but was told they only used Pfizer or Moderna. She said a few people had had reactions to the PEG (polyethylene glycol aka antifreeze) in it which the AZ does not.I was told Pfizer or Moderna, take it or leave it… two of my daughters had Pfizer and they were both ill for a week after it. I have an MRI scan on my back coming up in December that I’ll have waited 10 weeks for whilst just walking is becoming more and more of a problem and I’m not jeopardising that for anything. I may have it afterwards…
No - antifreeze is often Ethylene glycol, sometimes Propylene glycol and with various other substances possibly being included. Similar names but very different substances.
We are all too ready to accept and understand that a single atom difference between T4 and T3 has a huge impact. The difference between antifreeze and ALC-0159 is far, far greater. ALC-0159 has a molecular weight of around 2000 daltons; ethylene glycol around 62.
Consider that cellulose, which we all consume every day, is a long chain of, pretty much, sugar molecules. But it has very, very different physical and chemical and biological properties to any sugar.
I had astrazeneca twice before and i felt awful. I couldn't even care for my family. It lasted for about 2 weeks after each dose. I had the pfizer booster and i felt great except a minor pain on my arm and swollen lymp nodes. I wasn't tired or felt sick at all. My sister had moderna and she had high temperature and she fainted. Unfortunately all of them have side effects. They made me feel so drained 😪 Perhaps because i have an autoimmune disease. From what i know you can't choose another vaccine for your booster. It has to be Pfizer. Btw pfizer will have a new vaccine in about 3 months. So there is another booster coming. There is no ending
We do not know for sure what is going to happen. The Omicron variant is being considered as a possible target for a revised vaccine. There is, in my view, no possibility of any new variant vaccine being available in three months - I think that would be when it i launched as a product. (They said 100 days to develop a new vaccine. They then have to produce and distribute it.)
Sorry HelvellaI didn’t quite follow your message. Are you saying you think the vaccine to the new variant will be ready in 3 months or that’s it not possible to have it ready in that time?
They might have the design, and even the testing, done. But it won't be ready in quantity to actually deliver.
Manufacturing billions of doses is a major undertaking in any circumstances. Inevitably, it will take at least many months to produce the equivalent of one booster vaccine for everyone who is already vaccinated. Let alone the ongoing need for those who have not yet had a chance of any vaccine.
Of course, they might suddenly switch production from Mk 1 to Mk 2 - totally. But they are still struggling to deliver what has been ordered. Another booster requirement would increase that demand even further.
Hi Pfizer and Moderna are very similar so chances are that if you reacted to Pfizer then you would to Moderna, both being the same sort of vaccine. I believe they are offering the AZ in limited cases where people can't have the Pfizer, in case of allergies etc. You could try phoning 119 to ask.
I used to get a very sore red lump,after a flu jab. A nurse suggested taking an antihistamine as its a local reaction to the jab. Might be worth a try.
This forum has three polls regarding Covid-19 vaccination experiences. These have been running for months and both have large numbers of replies.
Keeping these comments together makes it much easier to find them than having multiple separate questions. It also helps to avoid a large amount of duplication.
For this reason, we are adding this comment and closing posts to replies.
Please read the comments and, when you have had your vaccinations, enter your votes and consider whether you would like to add a reply regarding your personal experiences.
Some comments might help you.
Thyroid disorder and COVID-19 BOOSTER vaccination. **This Poll is NOT for the THIRD vaccination for IMMUNOSUPRESSED people**
I think you just get what is available on the day. I had a Moderna booster yesterday, the previous were AZ. I have none of the fluey symptoms as with the AZ, but the injection site is swollen and painful today.
Gov.UK state that only Pfizer or Moderna are available but you might get AZ if your previous doses were AZ gov.uk/government/publicati... . (I wonder if this is to cover them for remote parts where they can't deliver Pfizer?).
British Heart Foundation say "AstraZeneca will only be offered to those who can’t have Pfizer or Moderna." bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo... So, perhaps there is an option for those who have reacted badly to Pfizer. It may take some persistence to get jump through the hoops. Would seem simpler to give the GPs a batch of AZ for them to ration for special cases but the NHS doesn't do common sense.
i have a more pragmatic solution to "can i choose which one i get ?"
there are several 'walk in' centres within reach of me.... i walk past them occasionally and have a look on the board in the lobby ... it says which vaccine if currently being used, or you could ask... so after i've read my tea leaves to decide which vaccine i think i want... i'll be 'walking in' to one that is using it that week.. or waiting till i find one that is.
I could be wrong , but i don't think there's much planning going on here.. i think it's got a lot to do with 'who's got a supply of what'
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
How can I stabilise my TSH levels when I have serious Long Covid?
Bloods impacted by Covid Booster jab?
should I wait until better medicated to take covid vaccine? 
I should have known better
Can you choose a GP by speciality? (UK)
