Community Forums

Rogerwilkouk · 05-18-2021, 02:28 PM

Forgive me if this is already posted somewhere.
I had COVID about 8 weeks ago, fairly severely, brief visit to ER when my oxygen dropped low but I have been recovered for about 5 weeks now (still rebuilding lung strength but..)
I decided to go ahead and get my first vaccine shot yesterday. First 12 hours, fine. Then I felt like I had gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.
Research shows, if you've had COVID, then the first shot can produce the severe reactions that the second shot would produce in people who haven't had COVID.
OK, I get that. I can stomach a few days of feeling like this. It's nothing compared to the original COVID.
Some research shows if you've already had COVID, the first shot basically fully immunes you like you had both shots but they still recommend the second shot.
There is nothing I can find about what sort of reactions to expect when I get my second shot. Even more severe? Less severe. Nothing available to provide guidance on this and now I am very leery about getting the second one with nothing to prepare me.
Anyone been through it and have advice or real world information.

tap4154 · 05-18-2021, 03:27 PM

The CDC advises that you wait 90 days after you've had the disease before you get vaccinated. I think that means 90 days from when you recover. Maybe that's why it's affecting you so much?

Most people I know had very mild reactions to it. I just had a sore arm on each Pfizer shot, but my next door neighbor got wiped out for two days from her second Moderna i shot. The rest of my extended family are all vaccinated, and everyone had mild reactions. Sometimes a little bit tired the next day. Some had Johnson & Johnson, some Pfizer, and some Moderna.

Rogerwilkouk · 05-18-2021, 03:33 PM

I did check CDC guidelines before I went and they removed that requirement. There was no medical reason for it I don't believe. It was to give people who had no resistance or antibodies a chance to get their shots first.

Yosemite77 · 05-18-2021, 08:31 PM

Given the way reactions vary, I doubt if any answer you get here would have any validity for you.
I think it comes down to a choice between having good protection from the vaccine (about 80% after the first dose) or great protection (up to 95% after the second). After my experience with Covid, I would do anything to minimize the chances of getting it again.
It sounds like you’ve done your research. Here’s an article which might add to your knowledge on the subject.
https://theconversation.com/why-it-t...er-dose-153956
Good luck with your decision.

grldst · 05-18-2021, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogerwilkouk

Forgive me if this is already posted somewhere.
I had COVID about 8 weeks ago, fairly severely, brief visit to ER when my oxygen dropped low but I have been recovered for about 5 weeks now (still rebuilding lung strength but..)
I decided to go ahead and get my first vaccine shot yesterday. First 12 hours, fine. Then I felt like I had gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.
Research shows, if you've had COVID, then the first shot can produce the severe reactions that the second shot would produce in people who haven't had COVID.
OK, I get that. I can stomach a few days of feeling like this. It's nothing compared to the original COVID.
Some research shows if you've already had COVID, the first shot basically fully immunes you like you had both shots but they still recommend the second shot.
There is nothing I can find about what sort of reactions to expect when I get my second shot. Even more severe? Less severe. Nothing available to provide guidance on this and now I am very leery about getting the second one with nothing to prepare me.
Anyone been through it and have advice or real world information.

Like you, I had covid and also have received both vaccine shots. I got the pfizer vaccine. I only had a slight reaction to the first shot, mostly a slight swelling of the glands in my neck. Reaction to the second shot was less then the first.

tap4154 · 05-18-2021, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogerwilkouk

I did check CDC guidelines before I went and they removed that requirement. There was no medical reason for it I don't believe. It was to give people who had no resistance or antibodies a chance to get their shots first.

My understanding was if you had it within the past 3 months getting the vaccine may not be as helpful because you may not develop immunity as well as you would if you had waited. Also if you received monoclonal antibodies, they suggested you should wait at least 3 months. The general consensus is you have immunity approximately 90 days or maybe a little more after having the virus. I'm positive I had it in February of 2020, and four months later I had an antibody test and it came back negative. However we may have T cells after an infection which the antibody test does not find. In any case, good luck on the second one, and I hope it's not as bad a reaction as the first was!

twogypsies · 05-19-2021, 01:37 AM

Here's a good article:

https://www.prevention.com/health/a3...id-19-already/

Craig1960 · 05-19-2021, 08:29 AM

A good friend had covid back in later Sept last year, spent 19 days in ICU and over a month in the hospital, he still hasn't fully recovered. Anyway he just got his second shot of pfizer last week, first ones was just a sore arm for a couple days and the second one put him down for a couple days.
So I think like already mentioned it has different effects on everyone.

Rogerwilkouk · 06-15-2021, 11:44 AM

Well, just as an update and to share information with anyone else. I went and got the second shot yesterday.
Been 24 Hrs now. Very sore arm but other than that basically no other significant side effects so far.

SlowJoe · 06-15-2021, 09:03 PM

I know 2 people who had the illness and also got the shot. Both had bad reactions. Felt terrible for a day, both 102 fever, etc...

If a person believes immunity can be had for this sickness, then how can a shot offer any better protection that the natural protection your body offers? I do not understand why someone who had it gets any benefit from the shot? There are studies that show people who had SARS over a decade ago had immunity to COVID because their immune system recognized it.

twogypsies · 06-16-2021, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowJoe

I know 2 people who had the illness and also got the shot. Both had bad reactions. Felt terrible for a day, both 102 fever, etc...

Those reactions are very normal. No problem.

If a person believes immunity can be had for this sickness, then how can a shot offer any better protection that the natural protection your body offers? I do not understand why someone who had it gets any benefit from the shot? There are studies that show people who had SARS over a decade ago had immunity to COVID because their immune system recognized it.

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/do-i-need-vaccine-if-ive-already-had-covid-19

followingsea · 06-17-2021, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/do-i-need-vaccine-if-ive-already-had-covid-19

The problem I have with the advice provided 'by A Q&A with UChicago Medicine infectious disease specialist Jennifer Pisano' is that is not very scientific.

For example we should know what the risk of getting covid-19 more than once for different risk groups.

Risk = # infected more than once/# infected once

If this is a very small number than there is little benefit.

Then there is a risk of a severe reaction to the vaccine after having covid-19 once. I suspect there is not enough data yet.

In anycase, my youngest son who had a mild case over a year ago, had a mild case reaction (sore arm) to the vaccine.