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Vaccinations for respiratory illnesses and PMR: To get or not to get?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 15 12:27pm | Replies (20)Comment receiving replies
@julieahp Thanks for this thoughtful post. I, too, have been getting regular vaccinations for flu and Covid. Like you, I space them a couple of weeks apart. I was in public health, and we were taught to aim public health messages at the general population where they will have the greatest impact, which means they may not be appropriate for people with extenuating conditions. After discussing vaccinations with my pharmacist, I also opted to get the regular flu vaccine each year, not the senior formulation which contains an adjuvant to boost the immune system. He also counseled the Covid vaccine by Pfizer over Moderna because it is less likely to cause a reaction but is equally effective. For some reason that I don’t understand, my now retired PCP did not recommend the shingles vaccine, and now that I am getting a new doctor, I would like to get one. While withdrawing from prednisone from a flare, though, I apparently had prednisone withdrawal which was unrecognized until it triggered secondary adrenal insufficiency which I am now fighting. I am really uncertain about the effect of any vaccines on my slow recovery. Do you go up on your dose prior to having a vaccination? And you said you had a pretty strong reaction to it — was that related to PMR?GCA or was it the side effects that are typical of the vaccine?
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@potterywoman
Thanks for your helpful message and questions, also. I have been off prednisone for a bit over a year now, after being on prednisone for about a year and that year including a slow taper prescribed by my rheumatologist. I was grateful to be able to stop prednisone, although I felt great on it, due to its deleterious effects on the body long term! I had no trouble whatsoever with the tapering nor with being completely off prednisone. I had been having monthly infusions of Tyenne while tapering. I started at 60mg Prednisone at the start because of my GCA diagnosis. I'm now 65. I have not needed so far to restart any prednisone (no GCA flares) and have been doing fine on the monthly infusions. I mask in public and whenever I think I should in order to prevent [respiratory/other] infections. With PMR, I don't think I'll ever feel the same physically as I did prior to diagnosis (funky muscle slight weakness (but can be overcome just by continuing on, plus upper body/back/shoulder aches with heavy use--lots of kitchen cooking prep, housework, etc.) My new normal. Thanks for the advice about Pfizer over Moderna for Covid vaccine and about getting the normal flu vaccine rather than the one with the adjuvant that boosts the immune system. I'm taking that advice! I/we also eat a really healthy anti-inflammatory diet (and enjoy it) and keep foods low on cholesterol low/no sugar, etc, because of the monthly Rx which can impact (increase) those areas of disease.
Regarding the Shingrix vaccine: I had this vaccine (2 doses 6 months apart) about a decade or so before symptoms/diagnosis of PMR/GCA came on, so unrelated side effects. The reaction was simply due to the vaccine itself. My sister & hubby both had the same reaction. And others. We interpreted it as a good sign, that our body was building up a good immunity, but don't know if that's a scientific explanation.
I do NOT take prednisone prior to having a vaccination (and, again, have been off prednisone for over a year now).
I am really sorry to hear about your challenge with adrenal insufficiency due to prednisone withdrawal. And I would also worry about the effect of any vaccines on your recovery, although I don't have that kind of medical knowledge. Are you on a IL-6 biologic drug (either weekly injections or monthly infusion (Actemra, Tyenne, Avtozma, other IL-6 drugs)? I'm so grateful that they came on the market. Well wishes to you (-: .