Connect
Having long covid and getting the updated vaccine: side effects?
I've had long covid since summer of 2024 and someone very sensitive to side effects/medication. My PCP now wants me to get the 2024-25 vaccine. My online search has shown me that with my LC symptoms of body aches and PEM that the vaccine might well make my symptoms worse, cause additional symptoms and prolong LC. Anyone also sensitive have experience with this? My gut says don't get it, but I am both worried about getting the vaccine and not getting it...thoughts?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.
Connect
EXCELLENT~
I had the xbb vaccine in Oct 2023, got Covid June 2024 and got myocarditis the afib with a sad heart in July. I got the JN 1 Novavax in late Sept 2024. In 2 weeks my 6 min walk distance improved by 60%, my left atrial enlargement improved and I felt tons better. I had a major Covid exposure in Dec 2024. I didn’t test positive but I had a setback, lots of a fib and decreased exercise tolerance. I got a second Novavax JN 1 in March 2025. I had no adverse rxns but it didn’t seem to have much impact. A study came out this week on the impact of vaccine on LC people who hadn’t been vaccinated. Mostly positive, but it wasn’t too many patients and a few did worse. I can look it up if you want.
I got all Moderna vxs and boosters until I had covid in July 2024. My side effects were similar to my LC symptoms of fatigue and body aches. So Im nervous about another of those. I don't want be non-vaccinated but am now having a terrible flare up that has continued now for 3 weeks. I am considering the Novavx when it becomes available again later this year. Can't find it in my area right now. Any info you can post about a study would be helpful. Thank you very much!
Here is the link to the paper I was referring to...https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-025-00829-3. It doesn't match your situation, these were patients who had never been vaccinated but had long covid, and they only had 16 patients. But I think it is interesting. From my reading, the XBB shot you likely got in fall of 2023 was not very protective against the variant you got in July of 2024. I think we were in a similar situation, not much protection against the JN1 descendant variant. The studies on the JN1 (in the US only Novavax) showed decent coverage for what we got in the summer. The moderna/Pfizer shots likely had some coverage, but from what I saw, Novavax was a little better. I find Novavax so much easier to tolerate than the mRNA shots, I basically take a nap. No fever/headache/nausea/bones breaking death warmed over feeling. I heard the novavax had expired, which really stinks. You could try calling Costco or even the company. I don't know if the fall vaccines will be JN1 or not. Population immunity should be pretty low by July, so I'm expecting another round of uncontrolled transmission in August. I still mask, use HEPA and check CO2 in spaces. I really don't want another year of a sad heart.
I had covid in March 2028 and LC for 8 months, still some PEM. I've gotten each vax and booster. Last booster was last week. I had a couple of days with a sore are and feeling under the weather, otherwise no reaction. Hopefully the flu and covid shots will be up to date and available next fall.