Need to decide to get a Covid Shot while I have PMR.

Posted by johnhester @johnhester, Jul 8 10:28am

I am conflicted on when or if to get a Covid shot. I see from our group than some have had a very bad reaction withing 2 weeks of getting the Covid shot. If anyone here has had a Covid shot while having PMR, I would love to hear from you. Most comments I read are from people who had a bad reaction. I wish there were statistics for Covid shots and PMR. The CDS says to get the shot anyway because if you get Covid and have not had the vaccine you may have a very bad outcome.
I am 88 years old and in fairly good health otherwise. I am doing fine with my tapering. I am now at 8 mg prednisone, down from 15 mg in 4 months.
So there is my delemma. Any suggestion or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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

michael920 | @michael920 | Oct 15 1:24pm

I'm 70 years old and have had PMR for four years. For the past two years I've gotten both a Covid booster and a Flu shot at the same time with no adverse reactions. I hope this is helpful.
michael.e1920

cws | @cws | Oct 20 10:05pm

In reply to @smcsrq "I also had an adverse reaction to the Shingrix vaccine in March of 2021. I, too,..." + (show)

I developed PMR two weeks after having the Shingrix first vaccination ( I have not had the second) and the Covid booster. My doctor said it would be better to get both out of the way and feel poorly the next day. I have made the decision not to get the second Shringrix vaccine and am on the fence about getting the COVID booster this year. At the time I did not correlate the vaccines with my very sudden PMR onset two weeks later. Now after reading so many anecdotes tying their PMR to a short time period following both of the vaccines, I am now concerned about the COVID annual vaccination making my PMR worse. After almost a year on prednisone, I am managing with Meloxicam and Tylenol Arthritis formula. I have never returned to my previous strength and continue to have shoulder and hip joint pain, but that is preferable to prednisone for me.

art43 | @art43 | Oct 21 8:45am

In reply to @cws "I developed PMR two weeks after having the Shingrix first vaccination ( I have not had..." + (show)

PMR is easily treated. You may not be so lucky with Covid.
I and many others have had both Covid and flu vaxes with no side effects…none.

katejaha | @katejaha | Oct 21 5:12pm

In reply to @cws "I developed PMR two weeks after having the Shingrix first vaccination ( I have not had..." + (show)

I would say flu shot only I had 3 Covid vaccines and 3 months after PMR developed! I had never heard of PMR nor anyone in my family. I firmly believe the Covid vaccines are to blame !!!!

jabrown0407 | @jabrown0407 | Oct 22 7:50am

In reply to @katejaha "I would say flu shot only I had 3 Covid vaccines and 3 months after PMR..." + (show)

There are many, many reported cases of PMR being related to getting a vaccination, Not just Covid. I personally had an adverse reaction to Shringrix (shingles vaccination) in 2019 and PMR is one of about 10 other new medical issues I am still dealing with. It is not a specific vaccination that contributes to PMR coming out. I blame my auto-immune system, not the vaccination. I am not a scientist, nor am I a specialist in autoimmune problems, but my theory is that since all vaccinations energize the immune system then somehow this gives PMR a chance to become dominant.

I had my allergist research the ingrediencies in both Shringrix and Covid vaccines. Water is the only common ingredient. So I proceeded with Covid shots. That was 2021. Now I take vaccinations as needed mainly because I want the help should I get Covid, RSV, the flu or even tetanus.

Every vaccination is a leap of faith. Side effects of every medical procedure and medication are always a concern. It comes down to a personal risk/reward decision.

teddyz | @teddyz | Oct 22 6:38pm

In reply to @art43 "PMR is easily treated. You may not be so lucky with Covid. I and many others..." + (show)

I can't point to a specific trigger for my PMR. As has been posted hear many times, it seems to be a response to inflammation of many different sources. What I can say is that I have had flu and covid shots without any issues since I've had PMR. After nearly losing my sister to covid, I would never go without my covid shot, not just to protect me but others like her.

nyxygirl | @nyxygirl | Oct 23 7:59am

Hello @johnhester I'll share my experience with getting my booster in Oct - the pharmacist at CVS looked up info about me and asked "how much Prednisone are you taking ? " My reply was that I had tapered to zero - -yay!- so I wonder what she would have advised if I replied "8mg"- the dose you are currently.
Have you checked with your PCP and/or Rheumatologist if 8mg is considered too high to have the booster right now? My recollection is that below 10 mg is "not high" ......

johnhester | @johnhester | Oct 24 7:48am

In reply to @nyxygirl "Hello @johnhester I'll share my experience with getting my booster in Oct - the pharmacist at..." + (show)

Thanks for your comments. My Rhumi asks, do you want my personal opinion or professional opinion? I said both. She said her professional optional is maybe take it and her personal opinion was don't take it. I will get my flu shot in about 2 weeks and if no adverse reactions, I probably will get the Covid shot. Never certain about it. John

nancy53 | @nancy53 | Oct 24 8:28am

In reply to @nyxygirl "Hello @johnhester I'll share my experience with getting my booster in Oct - the pharmacist at..." + (show)

My CVS pharmacist asked me the same question. I've tapered to 4mg and she still encouraged me to get the vax. She said it might not be as effective, but getting Covid would terrible for me.

I was hesitant to get the vax, but both of my doctors encouraged me. Getting the flu shot in 2 weeks.