1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Is it safe to get the Corona Virus (COVID-19) vaccine with PMR?

Posted by ncgal @ncgal, Nov 19, 2020

Just wondering if anyone has found out if it is okay to get the corona virus vaccine once it comes out. I'm 78, so past the 65+ age for early vaccinations, plus having the autoimmune diagnosis. I don't see my rheumatologist for another two months but guess I'll call him to find out if t comes to that. Just thought I'd see if anyone else has found out. I had no problem with the flu shot.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Mar 3, 2021
In reply to @peggyp "I am 82 and have had PMR for the last five years. I have also gotten..." + (show)
@peggyp

I am 82 and have had PMR for the last five years. I have also gotten the flu shot every year. My PMR was triggered by a medication. Many PMR people have gotten it because their body could no longer take the abuse of whatever happened at the time they got PMR. I also got the Shingles shot and Pneumonia shot before PMR. I have received the first Moderna shot and had only a sore arm. I am not looking forward to the second shot as I hear it has more symptoms but I do not want to die of COVID. I hope this is helpful.

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@peggyp.. Before I had the second Moderna shot, I was very worried too, but it wasn't that bad. I had a sore arm, but then I got it even with the flu shot. I'm on blood thinner too, also no problem. I did have a low grade temperature, I didn't even know I had it until my son called and asked me if I tested my temperature. I did not need to take Tylenol. My bp and HR was higher but that's to be expected. It's good to have some reaction, it means the vaccine is working. All in all, it was tolerable. So don't worry too much. The benefits outweigh the discomfort.

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1 reply
ste44 | @ste44 | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @chris1949 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I understand you have PMR and have some..." + (show)
@amandajro

Hello @chris1949 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I understand you have PMR and have some anxiety about if the COVID vaccine may cause a return of those symptoms. @kimh has replied and shared her thoughts with you.

Will you share an update with us post-vaccination? I am guessing you are already on your way or at your appointment this morning.

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Hi. I am not chris@1949. Help

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ste44 | @ste44 | Mar 5, 2021

Hi all. I am happy to have found you. I have PMR and will receive my second Pfizer shot next Wed. It took me more than a month to lower my prednisone from 20mg to 10mg, which my Dr and the hospital provider wanted. I did okay with the shot, sore arm, but my PMR is flaring. Taking Tylenol to get through this, but I am really sore. Will be happy to get through next Wed and the 2 weeks building immunity. Then,I can deal with the PMR again. It is painful but worth it

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2 replies
Jeff Down Under | @legendts | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @ste44 "Hi all. I am happy to have found you. I have PMR and will receive my..." + (show)
@ste44

Hi all. I am happy to have found you. I have PMR and will receive my second Pfizer shot next Wed. It took me more than a month to lower my prednisone from 20mg to 10mg, which my Dr and the hospital provider wanted. I did okay with the shot, sore arm, but my PMR is flaring. Taking Tylenol to get through this, but I am really sore. Will be happy to get through next Wed and the 2 weeks building immunity. Then,I can deal with the PMR again. It is painful but worth it

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Welcome to the club we would all prefer not to be in but here we are. Great information here and extremely helpful members to go with it. Trust your journey is at best, mostly uneventful.

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karinaph | @karinaph | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "@peggyp.. Before I had the second Moderna shot, I was very worried too, but it wasn't..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

@peggyp.. Before I had the second Moderna shot, I was very worried too, but it wasn't that bad. I had a sore arm, but then I got it even with the flu shot. I'm on blood thinner too, also no problem. I did have a low grade temperature, I didn't even know I had it until my son called and asked me if I tested my temperature. I did not need to take Tylenol. My bp and HR was higher but that's to be expected. It's good to have some reaction, it means the vaccine is working. All in all, it was tolerable. So don't worry too much. The benefits outweigh the discomfort.

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Mayofeb, Thanks for the update on your experience. I’m getting the second Pfizer shot this coming Wednesday. Expecting some discomfort and likely fever but hoping that’s all I get. At 9 mg now and perhaps tapering to 8.5 in a couple of weeks. Taking it very slowly this time around.

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karinaph | @karinaph | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @ste44 "Hi all. I am happy to have found you. I have PMR and will receive my..." + (show)
@ste44

Hi all. I am happy to have found you. I have PMR and will receive my second Pfizer shot next Wed. It took me more than a month to lower my prednisone from 20mg to 10mg, which my Dr and the hospital provider wanted. I did okay with the shot, sore arm, but my PMR is flaring. Taking Tylenol to get through this, but I am really sore. Will be happy to get through next Wed and the 2 weeks building immunity. Then,I can deal with the PMR again. It is painful but worth it

Jump to this post

Wow, good for you. Glad you can tolerate the steep decline in Pred. Do be watchful of any head (temple) or jaw discomfort, stiffness. ‘These are classic GCA symptoms. Mine were triggered when I tapered a bit too steeply. I had to go backup to 15 and now very slowly at 9, 5 months later.
But yes, it’s great to have this forum right? It’s a strange disorder, we don’t have much to go on and the moderators, esp John have been so helpful in directing us to articles that might expand our understanding. I feel like a hatch was opened and we fell into this “clubhouse” of sorts. None of us wanting to be here, but glad to have some company as we try to sail through these choppy waters.

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1 reply
ste44 | @ste44 | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @karinaph "Wow, good for you. Glad you can tolerate the steep decline in Pred. Do be watchful..." + (show)
@karinaph

Wow, good for you. Glad you can tolerate the steep decline in Pred. Do be watchful of any head (temple) or jaw discomfort, stiffness. ‘These are classic GCA symptoms. Mine were triggered when I tapered a bit too steeply. I had to go backup to 15 and now very slowly at 9, 5 months later.
But yes, it’s great to have this forum right? It’s a strange disorder, we don’t have much to go on and the moderators, esp John have been so helpful in directing us to articles that might expand our understanding. I feel like a hatch was opened and we fell into this “clubhouse” of sorts. None of us wanting to be here, but glad to have some company as we try to sail through these choppy waters.

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Thx for the reply. i am 76 and need the vaccine. The vaccine is effective with less prednisone. My Dr and the medical center here want it to be 10 mg or less. It took me a month plus, lowering 1 mg at a time. I am just notably sore in my shoulders, lower back, etc. muscles—all the usual places. I will go back up after the shot.

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1 reply
Jeff Down Under | @legendts | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @ste44 "Thx for the reply. i am 76 and need the vaccine. The vaccine is effective with..." + (show)
@ste44

Thx for the reply. i am 76 and need the vaccine. The vaccine is effective with less prednisone. My Dr and the medical center here want it to be 10 mg or less. It took me a month plus, lowering 1 mg at a time. I am just notably sore in my shoulders, lower back, etc. muscles—all the usual places. I will go back up after the shot.

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Thanks for posting your Drs and medical centres preference for the Prednisolone dose as I am finding that information hard to come by due to lack of information on the effectiveness of the vaccine with Prednisolone. Being in Oz we are in a far better position to be able to wait a little longer before getting our shots. Take care.

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ncgal | @ncgal | Mar 6, 2021
In reply to @artist01 "@kristem2020 My rheumatologist said the same thing to me as yours did. I'm 85 years old,..." + (show)
@artist01

@kristem2020 My rheumatologist said the same thing to me as yours did.
I'm 85 years old, have Giant Cell Arteritis and multiple other serious conditions, so very compromised.

I had my first Covid injection January 24, 2021, and was scheduled to have the second injection this Sunday, March 7. Was just informed that the medical scientists in my province of British Columbia in Canada have made the decision that it is now appropriate to space the two injections 16 weeks apart. Yikes, we all thought! Our new date for the second injection is May 15th.

I sincerely hope you make the wise decision to get your Covid vaccinations. Your doctor is a member of one of the top, world class institutions and he didn't get there by accident!

P.S. I had absolutely no bad reaction, and neither did any of the 50 people living in my Assisted Living seniors' residence.
Best wishes,
Laurie

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Kristem2020. I have a very good friend in England who just had her first Pfizer vaccine and also scheduled for 2nd one 12 weeks from first one. She does not have PMR but it seems all British citizens no matter what have to wait 12 weeks. I wonder if they know something we don't. Anyway, I'm 78, have PMR, had both my Pfizer vaccines with no problem whatsoever. Not even a sore arm. I'm only on 4 mg. Prednisone right now. Had PMR for 1 year.

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1 reply
Patrick | @pemagyaltsen | Mar 17, 2021
In reply to @briand3960 "I am a hospital pharmacist working on COVID-19 units who got PMR after my 2nd Shingrex..." + (show)
@briand3960

I am a hospital pharmacist working on COVID-19 units who got PMR after my 2nd Shingrex vaccine. So I've been on the fence whether to get the vaccine or not. I'm down to 2 mg Prednisone after starting in March. I sure don't want a flare up of PMR but I see the severe illness that COVID-19 can cause. I'm encouraged with the roll out that no serious side effects have been seen yet. I likely will get it when the hospital offers it in the near future

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Hello,
I also got PMR immediately (like the next day) after getting my 2nd Shingrix vaccine. I read quite a few of these, and thought about it, and got my first Covid vaccine (Pfizer) this past Saturday with no issues. I figured if the Covid vac. flared up the PMR, they can just bump my prednisone back up to 20mg (am currently at 12.5, tapering down 2.5 every 2 wks),

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