Vaccines are transformational medicines at the population level, saving millions of lives over hundreds of years. However, any medicine can carry rare individual risks.
Thank you for covering this in such a balanced way. I’ve commented on earlier posts of yours about this and the lack of belief, support and research there has been into this issue. It’s great that this study has come out, but predictably it has been jumped upon by both extremes - some dismissing its finding and others purposefully misinterpreting them to spread fear. It is crucial that there is further research and that researchers ensure the highest standards are met. It doesn’t help any of us harmed to have research that is easily misappropriated or leads to further dismissal. But, research like this does imo actually help trust in vaccination. I’ve been incredibly disappointed in the level of support and investigation into my own case, but it is reassuring to see that finally there is a bit of willing to address this issue. Hopefully having this researched could lead to identifying anyone at risk of this prior to vaccination and/or developing ways of preventing or mitigating cases - thus even further improving vaccine safety.
Thank you so much for this excellent piece. It further underlines the need for scientific research to be supported and scientists to have a voice and be listened to.
I ask because three women I know – none of them given to hyperbole – have told me they will never take another mRNA vax because of side effects. I know this is different to PVS, but I just wonder if you have any data about this aspect. I also came across two other people complaining about them in similar fashion during an on-line discussion.
These side-effects were more severe than just a sore arm, significantly serious for them to be concerned/frightened that a future dose would exacerbate the symptoms. It made me wonder if the general decline in vaccination uptake is in part due to post vax side-effects and hence is something worthy of study.
Additionally, I understand that the Novavax jab gives much milder side-effects whilst giving excellent and long-lasting protection but seems currently unavailable in UK (NHS or private), for reasons I don’t understand.
I’d love to see a future piece about this topic, if someone had the time and information to write it!
I don’t think all were mRNA jabs actually, there were three vaccines in the groups- 2 were mRNA but from different countries and one was a recombinant viral vector. I think the issue is the aberrant immune response to spike viral antigens which sadly may have happened to a viral infection too.
Re feeling temporarily grotty after a vaccine, not sure I have seen studies on this but will look. One likely possibility is that it’s the response to the target rather than the vaccines. Our immune system has an innate trained immunity response to pathogen threats we met before which could cause a more vigorous response. I suspect this plays a part in the reaction to boosters. I noticed that in my case I git Covid before the first vaccine and had quite a strong but temporary reaction to the vaccine when I got it and that was the viral vector vaccine. When the ancestral viral strain was removed from the vaccine formula in later boosters I didn’t react though. So that may be part of it. So again the targets not the vaccine type might be an issue. But that is just an opinion.
think the novo vax has been shown to give more long lasting antibodies though!
Thank you for sharing, Sheena. PVS may indeed - overall - be rare. But amongst veterans of the 5 coalition nations vaccinated with an experimental anthrax/pertussis/squalene cocktail in preparation for the 1991 Gulf War (as distinct from the 31 coalition nations which chose not to vaccinate) there is a 25-33% prevalence of PVS. A wealth of data remains untapped within this much eschewed cohort. They are crying out to be studied.
Thank you so much for presenting this information. I too hope that it is not used to support the "anti-vax brigade". I am an older female who developed heart arrhythmias three days after my first Pfizer vaccination in January 2021. I did not connect it to the vaccine and had the second April 14th. I developed what I now know was POTS. Blood tests were positive for ANCA and CRP. I was advised by my Cardiologist to have a third vaccine. A month later I had antibodies to the thyroid and kidney function plummeted. I was still getting a diagnosis of "anxiety. Moderna next, not so bad recurrence of arrhythmias (now permanent - although severity fluctuates). I was constantly told that I would be worse if I had covid than the autoimmune problems that I would probably get with the vaccine. This is probably true. I have now had seven vaccines, the last three being Sanofi and Novavax x 2. I have kept very quiet about this because I am pro vaccine and don't want my experience to be used to support the anti vax stance. I thought that it made sense that a vaccine against what seems to be essentially a cardiovascular virus would have side effects that would affect that system in a few unlucky ones! Not so much as "why me?", as "why not me". I was interested in the study you quote as I was quite ill with glandular fever some years ago, in that I had jaundice, thyroid issues (at 5feet 9 weighing 7 stone 3 and palpitations etc), and continued to test positive for it for over a year. So, that is my story! Exhausted, often dizzy, heart behaving badly and a bit of an invalid really. 7 covid vaccines, no covid, masking for ever!
Thank you for covering this in such a balanced way. I’ve commented on earlier posts of yours about this and the lack of belief, support and research there has been into this issue. It’s great that this study has come out, but predictably it has been jumped upon by both extremes - some dismissing its finding and others purposefully misinterpreting them to spread fear. It is crucial that there is further research and that researchers ensure the highest standards are met. It doesn’t help any of us harmed to have research that is easily misappropriated or leads to further dismissal. But, research like this does imo actually help trust in vaccination. I’ve been incredibly disappointed in the level of support and investigation into my own case, but it is reassuring to see that finally there is a bit of willing to address this issue. Hopefully having this researched could lead to identifying anyone at risk of this prior to vaccination and/or developing ways of preventing or mitigating cases - thus even further improving vaccine safety.
Thanks
Thank you so much for this excellent piece. It further underlines the need for scientific research to be supported and scientists to have a voice and be listened to.
These cases are all mRNA vaccines I presume?
I ask because three women I know – none of them given to hyperbole – have told me they will never take another mRNA vax because of side effects. I know this is different to PVS, but I just wonder if you have any data about this aspect. I also came across two other people complaining about them in similar fashion during an on-line discussion.
These side-effects were more severe than just a sore arm, significantly serious for them to be concerned/frightened that a future dose would exacerbate the symptoms. It made me wonder if the general decline in vaccination uptake is in part due to post vax side-effects and hence is something worthy of study.
Additionally, I understand that the Novavax jab gives much milder side-effects whilst giving excellent and long-lasting protection but seems currently unavailable in UK (NHS or private), for reasons I don’t understand.
I’d love to see a future piece about this topic, if someone had the time and information to write it!
Hi
I don’t think all were mRNA jabs actually, there were three vaccines in the groups- 2 were mRNA but from different countries and one was a recombinant viral vector. I think the issue is the aberrant immune response to spike viral antigens which sadly may have happened to a viral infection too.
Re feeling temporarily grotty after a vaccine, not sure I have seen studies on this but will look. One likely possibility is that it’s the response to the target rather than the vaccines. Our immune system has an innate trained immunity response to pathogen threats we met before which could cause a more vigorous response. I suspect this plays a part in the reaction to boosters. I noticed that in my case I git Covid before the first vaccine and had quite a strong but temporary reaction to the vaccine when I got it and that was the viral vector vaccine. When the ancestral viral strain was removed from the vaccine formula in later boosters I didn’t react though. So that may be part of it. So again the targets not the vaccine type might be an issue. But that is just an opinion.
think the novo vax has been shown to give more long lasting antibodies though!
Hope this useful?
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing, Sheena. PVS may indeed - overall - be rare. But amongst veterans of the 5 coalition nations vaccinated with an experimental anthrax/pertussis/squalene cocktail in preparation for the 1991 Gulf War (as distinct from the 31 coalition nations which chose not to vaccinate) there is a 25-33% prevalence of PVS. A wealth of data remains untapped within this much eschewed cohort. They are crying out to be studied.
Thank you. Very helpful. It’s great when science academics can communicate so clearly to non-scientists like me!
Thank you so much for presenting this information. I too hope that it is not used to support the "anti-vax brigade". I am an older female who developed heart arrhythmias three days after my first Pfizer vaccination in January 2021. I did not connect it to the vaccine and had the second April 14th. I developed what I now know was POTS. Blood tests were positive for ANCA and CRP. I was advised by my Cardiologist to have a third vaccine. A month later I had antibodies to the thyroid and kidney function plummeted. I was still getting a diagnosis of "anxiety. Moderna next, not so bad recurrence of arrhythmias (now permanent - although severity fluctuates). I was constantly told that I would be worse if I had covid than the autoimmune problems that I would probably get with the vaccine. This is probably true. I have now had seven vaccines, the last three being Sanofi and Novavax x 2. I have kept very quiet about this because I am pro vaccine and don't want my experience to be used to support the anti vax stance. I thought that it made sense that a vaccine against what seems to be essentially a cardiovascular virus would have side effects that would affect that system in a few unlucky ones! Not so much as "why me?", as "why not me". I was interested in the study you quote as I was quite ill with glandular fever some years ago, in that I had jaundice, thyroid issues (at 5feet 9 weighing 7 stone 3 and palpitations etc), and continued to test positive for it for over a year. So, that is my story! Exhausted, often dizzy, heart behaving badly and a bit of an invalid really. 7 covid vaccines, no covid, masking for ever!
Did you report your reactions to VAERS/MHRA or equivalent?