I am age 70, with both autoimmune issues and immune deficiencies - so high risk. I’ve had 4 Pfizer Covid vaccines spaced appropriately apart - last one this past June. In July I got Covid (from grandson) for the 1st time. The recovery from Covid was much easier than the weeks long, flare inducing reaction I’d been having after the June v…
I am age 70, with both autoimmune issues and immune deficiencies - so high risk. I’ve had 4 Pfizer Covid vaccines spaced appropriately apart - last one this past June. In July I got Covid (from grandson) for the 1st time. The recovery from Covid was much easier than the weeks long, flare inducing reaction I’d been having after the June vax with fatigue and muscle etc etc problems. At this point, I’m actually afraid of getting another Covid vaccination. (I had suspected a similar reaction, though milder, after the previous vax 6 mos earlier). So, two questions - is there data to suggest that some immune compromised individuals can get overwhelmed with repeated vax? Would immediate Paxlovid if Covid positive, supply a similar benefit without yet another Vaccination?
Thanks for your always helpful information- you are a beacon!
A middle aged friend of mine had pretty rough reactions to her first COVID vaccinations (flu-like symptoms for several days), but her first real COVID infection was like a mild cold. Unfortunately, her second COVID infection was much tougher and had difficult long COVID symptoms following for about a year (only recently diminishing). She's continuing to keep up with her boosters, in spite of the side effects (which have slightly diminished, in her case)
I'm guessing that the short answer to side effects and risk question is that is that it's always a roll of the dice. One can make general population predictions based on studies, and that can help inform your best guesses for your choices. But, one's individual experience will be very... individual. And, it may evolve in unexpected, difficult to predict ways. Maybe new technologies for individualized medicine will eventually allow better individual predictions, but I don't expect it to be that granular for a long time. I certainly don't think I'll live long enough to see that generally available at an affordable price.
Thanks for responding, LB. I agree that all of us carry individual variables that make it difficult to decipher the risk vs benefit in these cases and many others.
With my own immunological and autoimmune conditions I keep a daily record of symptoms/problems to help track some of my trends and variables. I was able to revisit what I recorded after the previous Covid vax 7 months earlier, and it was nearly exactly the same - just slightly milder and not nearly as prolonged.
Having an actual Covid infection just one month after the latest vaccination seems to further raise the question of risk vs benefit.
The infection itself resolved in 10 days with relative ease and without much carryover.
I am wondering if I now have better resistance to Covid than what the vaccination provided, and how long that may persist.
I don’t know what I’ll do when it’s time again to decide vax or no vax - other than maybe get a Covid antibody test prior to, weigh some outside opinions, and then follow my best instinct.
It will be past my time, but I do hope “Star Trek” medicine will morph from fantasy to reality. I guess in some ways, it’s already in process.
I am age 70, with both autoimmune issues and immune deficiencies - so high risk. I’ve had 4 Pfizer Covid vaccines spaced appropriately apart - last one this past June. In July I got Covid (from grandson) for the 1st time. The recovery from Covid was much easier than the weeks long, flare inducing reaction I’d been having after the June vax with fatigue and muscle etc etc problems. At this point, I’m actually afraid of getting another Covid vaccination. (I had suspected a similar reaction, though milder, after the previous vax 6 mos earlier). So, two questions - is there data to suggest that some immune compromised individuals can get overwhelmed with repeated vax? Would immediate Paxlovid if Covid positive, supply a similar benefit without yet another Vaccination?
Thanks for your always helpful information- you are a beacon!
Just commenting in empathy. My reactions to my second and third Moderna were the sickest I have ever been in my life. I am too scared to get another.
A middle aged friend of mine had pretty rough reactions to her first COVID vaccinations (flu-like symptoms for several days), but her first real COVID infection was like a mild cold. Unfortunately, her second COVID infection was much tougher and had difficult long COVID symptoms following for about a year (only recently diminishing). She's continuing to keep up with her boosters, in spite of the side effects (which have slightly diminished, in her case)
I'm guessing that the short answer to side effects and risk question is that is that it's always a roll of the dice. One can make general population predictions based on studies, and that can help inform your best guesses for your choices. But, one's individual experience will be very... individual. And, it may evolve in unexpected, difficult to predict ways. Maybe new technologies for individualized medicine will eventually allow better individual predictions, but I don't expect it to be that granular for a long time. I certainly don't think I'll live long enough to see that generally available at an affordable price.
Thanks for responding, LB. I agree that all of us carry individual variables that make it difficult to decipher the risk vs benefit in these cases and many others.
With my own immunological and autoimmune conditions I keep a daily record of symptoms/problems to help track some of my trends and variables. I was able to revisit what I recorded after the previous Covid vax 7 months earlier, and it was nearly exactly the same - just slightly milder and not nearly as prolonged.
Having an actual Covid infection just one month after the latest vaccination seems to further raise the question of risk vs benefit.
The infection itself resolved in 10 days with relative ease and without much carryover.
I am wondering if I now have better resistance to Covid than what the vaccination provided, and how long that may persist.
I don’t know what I’ll do when it’s time again to decide vax or no vax - other than maybe get a Covid antibody test prior to, weigh some outside opinions, and then follow my best instinct.
It will be past my time, but I do hope “Star Trek” medicine will morph from fantasy to reality. I guess in some ways, it’s already in process.