Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion General Message Board for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Diseases Booster Dose?

I got my third dose of Moderna yesterday around noon. Side effects for me were very similar to the second dose.

Arm pain (worse than second dose, about the same as first dose)
Really bad headache (similar to second dose)
Fatigue (a bit less than second dose)
Muscle heaviness (less than second dose)
Low grade fever (about the same or a bit lower than second dose).

Were it not for the headache, it wouldn’t be bad. It feels like the type of headache only anti-inflammatories would knock back but I don’t want to take anything that could theoretically tamp down my immune response. It’s as bad as a migraine but more in the back of my head rather than behind the eye and temples.

My rheumatologist says that ACR recommended (following CDA guidance) to withhold administration of TNF-alpha blockers for a week after COVID-19 vaccination. So I am planning to get my third shot the day after normal injection day and then not take my regular Humira injection for another week.

Also a Belgian research team found the following about antibody response:

1. Better response in Moderna vs Pfizer;
2. Better response in longer time interval between shots;
3. Better response in people younger than 35.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783797

I think some may be confused but the covid vaccine 3rd dose is not the same as the Covid booster. The booster is not out yet..as I understand it is still in the development phase...

This is what I did with both my second and third doses. I got my shot a day or two after my Humira should have been taken, then waited 5-7 days to take the missed dose.

Based on how bad I felt from the vaccine, I’m thinking I had a fairly good response but I’ve not had an antibody test.

Not about booster/ third dose per se, but interesting results. Please note that all three US vaccines are very effective, it’s a matter of degree.

https://www.cbs42.com/news/health/c...elta-variant-of-covid-19-than-pfizer-jj/

I wanted to share something tangentially related to my third Moderna dose.

I had a routine doctor appointment about three-and-a-half weeks after my third Moderna dose. Reviewing my records, we decided it was time for a tetanus booster. I had one of the Tdap shots.

In the past, I remember a sore arm from tetanus boosters and not much else.

I had this particular vaccine around 10:30 am. By early afternoon I started feeling generally unwell and I was very cold. I took my temperature and it was 100.6

By evening it was 101 and I had body aches to go along with the fever. It mostly broke overnight and by about 30 hours post injection I felt ok.

I am assuming it was a reaction to the shot though of course there is a chance it was a coincidence and I had a viral illness. Other than the COVID vaccine I don’t recall ever having a fever after another shot (though the flu shot sometimes gives me mild chills).

I am speculating that its proximity to my COVID shot may have meant my immune system was still pretty revved up and just reacted very strongly.

Anyway, if you are due for any non-urgent vaccinations, it might be worth waiting at least a month or two after your COVID shot. My experience is just one story (anecdotes aren’t data) but I thought I’d share.

Thank you for the reporting of your experiences with the booster or 3rd dose. I was advised to wait 2 weeks after the flu shot which I received at work. I watched the CDC video meeting on the Pfizer vaccine 3rd dose now recommended for those >65 or immune compromised. They reported after eight months after the 2nd dose the 77% remains in the human body to protect against the CoV19 virus.

I come to this decision in the middle of a pandemic of which I am part of as an RN. I am traveling to a region of Washington State which is overwhelmed by this surge of very ill patients. I am glad the 3rd dose yields a level of protection which will allow me to work with them. I also have a high level protective hood.

Winston. May I inquire which brand of vaccine did you receive for all 3 doses?

Thanks

Cell

Hi
I’d really like to get your opinion on my case. Should I get the booster/3rd dose? I’m more afraid of getting another autoimmune disease that I have to suffer with. I’m on Cosentyx, but am considering stopping it for a few reasons.

I got a reaction about a week after my 2nd Moderna dose. I got pulsatile tinnitus and vertigo, which is basically like an episode of Menierre’s disease. I got lucky because I only had one episode. I’m afraid I’ll develop long term Menierre’s with a third dose. But I do have a child, who naturally puts me at a higher risk for COVID.

I have many autoimmune diseases now and have Reactivated Epstein Barr and high lymphocytes the last five years. I also have low natural killer cells, which is not good.

What would you do if it were you? Take my chances with Covid? Thanks! By the way, please don’t worry that you’ll sway me too much if you write your opinion. I really would like to hear opinions and will still make my decision.

Hi! I’m sorry you had a reaction like that. I guess my own line of thinking is there is credible evidence that COVID infection itself can cause auto antibodies, and we have strong suggestions that other viral and bacterial infections can trigger autoimmune disease in some people.

So in my mind, I’d be weighing any potential risk of vaccine reaction against risk of COVID itself + long haul COVID.

That’s a great point, Mary Beth! I think I got much worse when I got reactivated Epstein Barr a few years ago. I might be susceptible to that with COVID too. Thank you!