I have a question on the vaccine issue. I read the article(s) John posted earlier and it seemed the article about a patient whose case for vaccine-related PMR was clearly medically substantiated, said her shot was an adjuvanted vaccine. I’ve done some reading about the reasons for adjuvants being used, and I find it confusing. One of the main reasons for adding the adjuvant is for those 65 years and older, all of whose immune systems (it is assumed) need an extra boost, because more elderly die of the flu than any other age category. Here’s what I find confusing:

I am 73 and already have 4 other autoimmune conditions. It seems to me my autoimmune system is on “overdrive” attacking tissues that aren’t problematic. I really think people like myself don’t need a special kick-start added to a vaccine just because we’re over 65. That is way too broad a category. Isn’t it possible that regardless of age, people with immune systems that are already “hyper” in a sense, are more at risk when injected with an additive designed to rev things up, than those whose immune systems are under-functioning?

I understand age categories being a factor in vaccine administration, but what “immune system related” categories are being used to determine benefit vs. the potential for harm? Why would anyone assume ALL seniors need an extra immune boost? Does anyone know of studies being conducted to determine the effect of adjuvants on already “over-functioning” immune systems, regardless of age?

I don’t know that I’m uniformly “against” vaccines, but I am wary of adjuvants in light of my other autoimmune conditions. My symptom prior to my flu shot was what I thought was bicepital tendonitis in my right arm. 2 days after the shot, symptoms were manifesting in both arms, through the pelvic girdle and down both legs and it was another month of increasing agony before my “sed” rate confirmed that these classic symptoms were indeed PMR. I can’t make a case for definite causation, but it’s enough to make me wary of adjuvants at the very least. Should I ever “need” another vaccine, I will definitely opt for the basic model with no attendant booster adjuvant.