Vaccines

Posted by Merry, Alumni Mentor @merpreb, Nov 24, 2020

I hate being ill, I hate pain. For the past couple of days, I have felt these as a result of another vaccine that I needed to have. And I need one more of those. I'm not happy, But I knew, from friends, that the disease was much more painful than the vaccine side effects.

If I want to help stop COVID-19 then I have to go by the rules and get 2 shots, despite the side effects. And, I can't get COVID-19. It will most likely kill me. Being a lung cancer survivor and 74 years old I don't want COVID.

When I heard that vaccines would soon be available against COVID-19 I was concerned, about how long it would take to get to the public, and if they will be safe. I wondered if they would be free, as has been stated, and if there would be side effects, and if enough people will get them so that we can get rid of the virus.

This is the first that I have seen an article concerning possible side effects. I kind of knew that there would be side effects that would be like a mild form of COVID. And this is what I read:
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/23/covid-vaccine-cdc-should-warn-people-the-side-effects-from-shots-wont-be-walk-in-the-park-.html
I guess that I will have to wait to see if it works and is safe. But meanwhile, I still have a lot of questions that maybe haven't formed yet. Do you?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

@johnbishop

@merpreb, I have the same concerns that I don't want to get COVID but at the same time I'm hopeful for the new vaccines that are coming out. I want transparency on the side effects also. I still haven't received the 2 shot shingrix vaccine but I'm planning to get that done in the near future. I also just signed up for a new COVID-19 vaccine registry launched by Mayo Clinic - https://kttc.com/2020/11/23/covid-19-vaccine-registry-launched-at-mayo-clinic/. Not sure if I will be selected but I've participated in a Mayo Clinic Flu vaccine study a few years ago so I'm comfortable participating in their COVID vaccine study.

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@migizii - I too, signed up for the covid vaccine registry at Mayo Clinic, so MN must also be a state chosen for a pilot program. As I live far away from their clinic, I don’t know if I will be selected although I do live in the state....will see.

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@merpreb

It's been 4 days now since I've had my first Shingles vaccine and I still have the chills, headache, and general malaise feeling. Has anyone else had a prolonged reaction?

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@merpreb, So sorry that you are experiencing prolonged reactions to the first shingles vaccine and hoping that they will pass quickly.

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@migizii

@migizii - I too, signed up for the covid vaccine registry at Mayo Clinic, so MN must also be a state chosen for a pilot program. As I live far away from their clinic, I don’t know if I will be selected although I do live in the state....will see.

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@migizii-Perhaps I have been unclear. This is a Pfizer program and it is to refine their plans for delivering and administering its Covid-19 vaccine before the vaccine receives its expected authorization. The four states are, Rhode Island, Texas, New Mexico, and Tennessee. DIstributing vaccines will be a huge undertaking. It's essentially a pilot program for deliveries. So if there are any kinks we will be the first to know.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/pfizer-vaccine-rollout.html
Have you heard back as to when your program will begin?

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@colleenyoung; @fiesty76- My chills are finally waning and maybe the glass of champagne last night helped? Thank you for your concern!

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@colleenyoung

@merpreb, I'm sorry to hear that you are still experiencing general malaise from the shingles vaccine. See this from the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/about-vaccine.html):
"About 1 out of 6 people had symptoms severe enough to prevent them from doing regular activities. ... Remember that the pain from shingles can last a lifetime, and these side effects should only last 2 to 3 days."

It's not unheard of to experience general malaise for longer, but you may wish to contact your doctor for peace of mind. All the news these days about vaccines can make one anxious.

With respect to the potential side effects of vaccines for COVID-19 there is much that remains unknown. I think this is a good time to remind everyone that news headlines can be misleading. In the article posted in the first message of this discussion the article states that "doctors say" when the article quotes one doctor.
This article promises questions will be answered.
- What are the side effects of Pfizer's, Moderna's vaccines? Your questions answered https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-faq-1.5795486
While some clarification is offered, there are not definitive answers. It's still too early and testing continues.

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@colleenyoung-I read this too after my concern went up. I'm glad to say that I finally am feeling much, much better! Thank you.

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@merpreb

It's been 4 days now since I've had my first Shingles vaccine and I still have the chills, headache, and general malaise feeling. Has anyone else had a prolonged reaction?

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update- I am feeling so much better today so I think that the side effects are finally leaving me!

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@merpreb

update- I am feeling so much better today so I think that the side effects are finally leaving me!

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Really good news Merry!

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@merpreb

@migizii-Perhaps I have been unclear. This is a Pfizer program and it is to refine their plans for delivering and administering its Covid-19 vaccine before the vaccine receives its expected authorization. The four states are, Rhode Island, Texas, New Mexico, and Tennessee. DIstributing vaccines will be a huge undertaking. It's essentially a pilot program for deliveries. So if there are any kinks we will be the first to know.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/pfizer-vaccine-rollout.html
Have you heard back as to when your program will begin?

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@merpreb, Thank you for listing the four states receiving the pilot program of deliveries. As a Texan who is really restricting media news, I was surprised and then amused to learn that my state was one of the four from a someone living in another state. Something similar happened weeks ago when a British friend informed me of a large event happening in the U.S. that I was unaware of. Just another reason to be grateful for our friends, yes? Smiles to all.

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@merpreb

@colleenyoung; @fiesty76- My chills are finally waning and maybe the glass of champagne last night helped? Thank you for your concern!

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@merpreb, So glad to hear symptoms are on the way out!!! As for the glass of champagne, a former boyfriend once told me a good antidote for a simple upset stomach was a bit of bourbon and coke. I tried it and it worked! So you'll not get any derision from this gal on the champagne. Nothing feels better than feeling better after feeling worse, right?

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@merpreb. I’ve been wondering a lot about the vaccines. As I’m immunocompromised frequently from my meds, how would the vaccines affect me. I know live virus vaccines would be a problem. Also, if my husband gets a live-virus vaccine, and sheds virus, would that affect me. Questions, questions.

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