Having long covid and getting the updated vaccine: side effects?

I know that she was exhausted all the time and had no desire to participate in any family events-prior to LC she was always with the family. Not sure of other symptoms

Gosh, the nurse did not know. This was in 2021 and everyone was so frantic to give us the booster.
Thanks for your question.

To mbryant1380 —

Unfortunately, I have no specific information applicable to your specific Covid susceptibility.

However, the general opinion seems to be that the Covid vaccine will decrease the probability of getting Covid, And, the vaccine will probably reduce the severity of symptoms if one does get Covid.

Note that subsequent vaccinations may be formulated differently. And they will likely be interacting with evolved forms of the Covid virus. Also, with Covid re-infections, your body will likely be interacting with evolved forms of the virus.

Also note that the vaccine affects each person differently. That’s why each person’s risk/benefit calculation must be based on general probability guesses. So far, no studies have firmly established the probability numbers.

Wishing you a favorable outcome, whichever way you choose to go.

— friedrich

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.

I also got a cure from a vaccine. Unfortunately about 3 months after that, I got sick with something, not covid, and went back into LC. I have gotten 2 more shots since and with no improvement. Still have LC but slowly improving.

From friedrich —

This comment follows up on my comment of April 28. I got the currently available Pfizer Covid booster in early May of this year. Since then, I’ve perceived no improvement or worsening of my primary LC symptom: PEM.

However, I’m hoping that this recent booster will reduce the likelihood of my getting a new case of Covid on top of my current LC.

~ friedrich