The immunologist stated that prednisone 5 mg is a very low dose. It is not immunosuppressive at that dose, i.e. it does not make you more susceptible to infections. There is a huge range in doses, as high as 100 mg or more, for autoimmune conditions or following g organ transplants to prevent rejection, in which immunosuppressive doses are required. Update from yesterday: prednisone takes effect very rapidly. I took my first dose yesterday. Already today 24 hours later, I feel significant improvement in terms of muscle pain, joint pain, energy, overall well-being. Very low doses of prednisone are well tolerated. Of course, check in with your physician, if you are diabetic, pre diabetic or have other issues where prednisone is contraindicated. The immunologist I saw specializes in post acute Covid 19 syndrome. Fear of prednisone is so common that there is term “corticophobia”. People confuse low anti-inflammatory doses with high immunosuppressive doses which DO have serious side effects.