Vaccines and Reactions: Thoughts please ?

Just wondering if people here are talking about Covid vaccine number 3 or 4 or which one ? There is talk of a new one coming out that covers more of the different strains but as far as I know it is not yet available to us over here. Have you got it there yet ? That would be number 5 for many of us. Most started with a couple of astra zenecas because that was the only one available to us and then had boosters of either Pfizer or Moderna or a mix. Astra Zeneca doesn’t seem to be around anymore.

Had both my COVID booster (Pfizer - Comirnaty Original/Omicron) and my annual flu jag yesterday. Both arms are sore around the vac sites but are neither red nor raised in those areas as usually happens. I’m also very tired and I’ve been like that after each COVID vac, thankfully that only (usually) lasts for a couple of days at the most.

Covid.of course

Had flu and vivid vaccine last friday.felt fine.not even sure arms.mild headache at night
Yesterday had headache all day , and tonight got the runs.don't know if connected but very unusual for me.even when bugs are going round.always seem to miss them
Maybe a delayed response

Flu jab one day shivering and feeling unwell in the night fine the next morning.

Next day had Covid booster ( have taken every one offered) same reaction every time , sore arm and terrible headache for 3 days no let up no improvement if paracetamol taken but on the 4 th day wake up and it’s just gone . Still better than the chance of dying

I had to cancel mine, flue. As soon as I’m able I will get the vaccine, if you have a bad reaction, think what the really thing would be. I had it and its horrible, despite four vaccines, the tiredness lasts for ages. The reaction from a vaccine a very short time.

Thank you for all of your replies.
Unfortunately, I can’t get an appointment with the nurse to talk about it until Wednesday, which is unusual for our surgery.
I decided that I wanted to get one out of the way as he’s got to have his Shingles one mid November.
So we’re both having our Covid ones today.
At least we know what to expect (I’m pretty certain that I’ll be absolutely fine. Touch wood!)
Thank you again

Dh and I had our boosters this morning.
He doesn't even have a sore arm, never does.
I can barely move my arm, ache all over, cold and headache. Hopefully feel better tomorrow.
I have been like this with 2 Astra Zenica and today's Moderna, not with Pfizer which was my first booster.

I just popped into my local pharmacy and she asked would I like my jab today. No queue, just into the booth, two minutes later all done. She makes sure she does it high enough into the deltoid muscle, some do it way too low. I asked about my Covid booster (shame she can't do that one too) and knowing me and a fair bit of my medical history she has given me some targeted advice. I trust her implicitly, she's never let me down. So far no reaction, can't even find the injection site, but it's only been an hour or so

Firstly, discuss with your GP. They are likely to have enough information, and will have hospital reports etc. to consider as well.
Explain your concerns, and ask, if appropriate, for them to contact the consultant. They will usually be better able to initiate contact, and obviously better placed to discuss details.
If this ends up unsatisfactory (and it shouldn't!) you can try your nurse specialist if you have one, or the consultant's secretary.
The usual advice in these situations (and it must be sought individually) is that any reaction to the immunisation is likely to be much more manageable than the illness. But as that isn't always the case, you need advice from someone who can weigh it all up for you.
In the end there will be a few for whom immunisations and vaccinations are not advisable, but they are very few.

There only a few of us here and we may not be typical so I really would seek medical advice. The doctors see hundreds of patients and would have a much clearer picture than we would.

Timing: we got the jabs when advised, Flu jab same day, other arm. Shingles another time, same month.

Sorry, I omitted that bit.

Neither of us have had a reaction to a vaccine, yet.

Rosie51

The people that I know who have had severe reactions to vaccines, (above and beyond the expected tenderness and aches in the arm) have found that having both injections in one arm, or even at the same time in both arms has engendered a stronger reaction. As someone with comprised immunity, who can only have injections in one arm I will take mine one at a time with at least a week gap between. I hope your GP can offer more medical based advice.

I agree with Rosie51

I was ill after having the winter flu and swine flu vaccines at the same time, never again.
It seems to cause consternation with the receptionists at the surgery when I request to have the vaccinations separately (most inconvenient!) but be firm.

Lathyrus - most vaccines contain adjuvants www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/adjuvants.html which make the vaccine work better. Some of these ingredients can provoke a response in the body such as fever, chills and aches. Some people can react more strongly than others to these ingredients.

I would ask his GP or the hospital he was admitted to for advice ?.

Husband had been on chemo so had to have the “non live” shingles vaccines which had to be ordered in specially. Just a sore arm resulted. He has had Covid inj number 5 and flu inj at same time two weeks ago again only sore arm. We are all different with different reactions to medicines - must be awful suffering bad reaction.

I didn't know that about taking paracetamol NotSpaghetti. Thanks.
My OH always has a strong reaction to vaccines.
I have M E. and was exhausted looking after him last week after flu/covid jabs..
I wonder how much research has been done. We aren't given enough information/advice about possible strong side effects
The only advice I can give is don't have vaccinations at the same time as your partner, in case you both have reactions.

How about, say, the flu and shingles together, a week or so rest, then the covid one?

Blossoming

I have had bad reactions to ‘flu jabs in the past. I was quite ill after my second Covid jab, so bad that Mr. B wanted to dial 999. 2 weeks in bed. No reaction apart from a sore arm after third Covid jab.

I had the ‘flu jab and the Covid jab in the same arm at the same time a couple of weeks ago. I can’t have them in the other arm. Apart from a sore arm and a somewhat ‘spaced out’ feeling for a day or two I was fine.

The advice seems to be to take a couple of paracetamol before you go. I can’t have paracetamol so don’t know if that works.

I was specifically told not to take anything such as paracetamol before the vaccinations. OK after if you have symptoms.
Just googled it:

It's possible that taking a painkiller before getting a vaccine will result in a "decrease in antibody response," explained Dr. Gregory Poland, director of the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

I'm relatively fit and healthy and have had no adverse reactions to any of the Covid vaccines - recently had the second booster.

However, 15 years ago when I was in my early 50s came off night duty and went along with colleagues for the flu vaccine, my first, and last! I became so ill within hours and took to my bed for a week - think I lost 10 pounds in as many days.

So, I don't have the flu vaccine and don't get flu - whether that continues who knows!

I have now had four Pfizer vaccines, every single time I have been laid low for a couple of days. Shivers, headache total lethargy.

I feel fine for the first 6-8 hours and then bam!!!

I have had bad reactions to ‘flu jabs in the past. I was quite ill after my second Covid jab, so bad that Mr. B wanted to dial 999. 2 weeks in bed. No reaction apart from a sore arm after third Covid jab.

I had the ‘flu jab and the Covid jab in the same arm at the same time a couple of weeks ago. I can’t have them in the other arm. Apart from a sore arm and a somewhat ‘spaced out’ feeling for a day or two I was fine.

The advice seems to be to take a couple of paracetamol before you go. I can’t have paracetamol so don’t know if that works.

Yes, it’s one of those puzzles.

Theoretically it shouldn’t and a blood/organ test will show no detectable changes within the body but people still suffer?

My husband had leukaemia for some years so I got awfully familiar with all this stuff. We just had to rely on what the doctors said.

That’s why I thought it was the best advice I could give.

Thank you NotSpaghetti
I said to another GNetter yesterday, I wish that they’d be a little bit more open about reactions.
I know that they don’t want to put people off having vaccines, but I do think that they should be more open about it.
When DH has his first Covid vaccine, I was absolutely terrified by his response to it