AIBU to not have the 4th covid jab ?

[clovid]

I've had all my covid vaccines up to date. I also had covid a few months ago.. I think I can get the next vaccine too if I want it. I was a bit surprised to be invited again..

Covid was just like a cold for me.

I'm 35, have MS ( not on any medication and I don't really have any symptoms apart from fatigue ). So no disability from it, no trouble walking or anything in my body- except fatigue.

I don't really want to have another vaccine. Is that unreasonable ?

I have Covid now. I’ve had two jabs and haven’t felt quite right since them. I’m hoping that this bout will give me some antibodies.

Unless I need it to travel, I won’t be having any more.

I agree, it doesn't, since the wheels are turning so slowly..

Dishh seriously? It's posters like you that really make me wonder wtf I bother.
For the past year I've kept my mouth shut and just put up with people totally refusing to see a different point of view.
I'm so over being treated like an idiot. I've made my choice, you've made yours.

The worst thing is the total injustice and there is nothing I can do about it and no one gives a shit. I just get people like you saying " well maybe nursing isn't for you"

Fucking hurts. But hey who gives a shit, I'm a stranger and it doesn't affect you.

I had my booster yesterday. I had the Pfizer as that was what they had. I now have a very sore arm and my Crohn's symptoms are a bit haywire like they did last time. I am personally glad I had it but people are entitled to their own feelings and opinions about it.

I have to say the nurse practitioner who did my injection was absolutely lovely and really positive which helped.

Dishh seriously? It's posters like you that really make me wonder wtf I bother.

You've clearly made a a very serious decision with life changing consequences.

Obviously you have your reasons ( which you've not put on here) and you don't have to.

Do you really care what a random on the internet says ? It seems like misplaced angst since your own actions, rightly or wrongly, have affected your life profoundly.

Not what Dishh thinks.

@nowaynotnownotever

Well not really, they exist to provide education about reproductive health and promote evidence-based practice.

In any case if the RCOG was only there to protect its membership, why would they be advising them to vaccinate pregnant women if there was a chance it was dangerous?

@MrsMorrisey

Fucking hurts. But hey who gives a shit, I'm a stranger and it doesn't affect you.

This is an anonymous forum. Nothing posted here is personal. I don't know who you are and why you made your decision. As long as you are happy with it, that's all that matters.

Sometimes it can be helpful to understand how others think and their thought processes; that's why I read this forum. I don't take anything personally and I like reading everyone's opinions - sometimes especially those I would usually disagree with.

@Ethelfromnumber73 you really need to wake up, the "evidence-base" for a lot of the green top guidelines just refer back to themselves in circles.

And as for why they would advise against vaccination? Well they are terrified of litigation and the the drug companies are making billions selling their vaccines.

You blindly follow though.

@nowaynotnownotever

I'm not 'blindly following'. My job (not at the RCOG) involves reviewing the evidence base about use of medicines in pregnancy. I work with experts in this field from all over the world, including medics, statisticians and teratologists.

sunglassesonthetable spot on.
Misplaced angst indeed. Because there is nowhere for it to go.
Got any suggestions?

It's up to you of course OP, but I think as you are clinically vulnerable it would be sensible to have it. Covid could do you far more damage. I am suffering from long covid after being very ill with it a few months back (in hospital) - mostly neurological symptoms I've never had before. It had been 9 months since my booster although I'm CEV - I'd been taken off that list so not offered the 4th/5th vaccines or the antivirals (my consultant has told my GP in no uncertain terms this should not have happened and am now back on the list and having my vaccine next week). Covid is so unpredictable - yes, for many it's mild but for some it is life changing in a bad way. I am only just getting back to work months later and couldn't even go out of my house for weeks or walk at all, it was really strange and very unsettling. So with MS I'd be worried about what it could do tbh and it's much more likely to cause you issues than the vaccine statistically speaking.

That's just one view on it though and obviously from the POV of having had covid very badly and suffering the fallout. It's up to you to make a decision based on your own circumstances.

Thanks. I appreciate the view of a fellow MSer. I'm just scared of getting a blood clot and dying. I know it's irrational, but freaks me out.

@Pericombobulations they keep only doing brain MRIs on me each year, even though when they first diagnosed me, I had a quite a few in my spinal cord..

They said that the routine thing is to do a Brian MRI each year and if that's changed a lot, it would indicate there have been changes to the spinal cord as well...

Personally would prefer brain and spine every year to know exactly what's happening. OH well. Is that your experience ? Or do you get brain and spine ?

spot on.
Misplaced angst indeed. Because there is nowhere for it to go.
Got any suggestions?

You sound like you have a lot going on. I could suggest the obvious things people do around relaxation and mindfulness. About exercise, the help of friends and family, getting into nature, about channelling your energy into things you enjoy.

I'd also suggest stepping back from SM if it's not helping your MH. Do you think it helps?
If you think it's a positive ( it doesn't seem like it from your comments) you could start a thread with the question above, maybe other people in your circumstances could help?

Tbh I am a random stranger and I don't want to patronise you because I know nothing of your life and circumstances. We have clashed over our opinions on the Covid Vaccine but that it is a very small overlap for me to be giving you life advice.

I wish you well whatever your vaccine choices.

sunglassesonthetable

One of the kindest posts on MN.

It's my issue and sometimes I just get so angry at the injustice. One reason I don't go on FB much too.

I appreciate your comments and I wish you well too

I think the problem is that this virus has been variable from the start. There have been general symptoms but you might get one, all or many of them. You might get long covid, you might not. People from all walks of life and all scales of health and fitness have died or have had virtually no ill effects. I have had the vaccines to prevent the worse for me.

Is there anyone in your practice you can talk to and maybe see if you can have the vaccine under medical supervision and emergency proceedings in place if you have any worrying symptoms afterwards? I know the NHS is in a difficult place but there may be things that can be done to reassure you.

Just stating facts about our town. No one had covid until they were vaccinated.

One of the odder statements I've seen lately.

That confuses me, I havent had a MRI since I was diagnosed 6 years ago, and not just because the idea terrifies, my consultant never mentioned having one. But I am a bit older than you and on a DMT. I suspect different areas have different plans for their patients.

Like you I am terrified of a blood clot so do sympathise with you, vaccinations also scare me, but I try to weigh up which outcome terrifies me most and do the one that is less scarey.

Its the same as deciding a DMT, I was in the hospital that developed Lemtrada (Adenbrookes) and they were keen for me to have that but I couldnt face it, so ended up with a lower level one (Plegridy) which seems to be working but with no MRI's to compare we dont really know.

I do completely understand why you and many others dont want the vaccination and support the free choice for all. I just want people to review as much information on the different outcomes for each path and decide on that rather than anything else. And I dont mean watch the tin foil hat brigade, google the professionals. Speak to your MS Nurse and see their feelings too, I email my nurse whenever I have a question as I trust their advice for MS'ers.

@Pericombobulations ah wow ok. That's such a different treatment plan ! How do they know if your DMT works if they don't have an MRI ? Just by lack of relapses ?

The DMT I take has that deadly brain infection as a rare side effect. Freaks me out!

I was OK taking the risk of having the vaccine all 3 times I had it. I'm not sure what's caused me to stall. Perhaps actually having covid. I read a few stories of healthy people dropping dead from the blood clots and it freaked me out big time. Anti Vaxxers got me, basically.

The more I think about it logically, I think I should just have the 4th dose. But I am a bit worried.

@clovid Hey you wouldnt be human if you werent scared. Personally I speak to the MS nurse or get them to pass questions onto my consultant as they are in the best place to advise you as they can see your medical notes and see what is suitable for you. We are not experts and can only advise!

And yes my consultant seems to think by lack of relapses and they do a few physical tests each year to see my progress.

I'm guessing by your side effects that you are on one of the pills. Thats one of the reasons I got the injectable, as I hate pills more, but have to take some daily as it is.

It's an updated, tweaked vaccine that tackles the omicron virus that has evolved. If you don't have it, you put yourself and potentially others at risk. I had mine this afternoon (at the end of a session volunteering as a steward). I'd recommend this potentially life saving vaccine to everyone. "I'm a bit fed up of vaccines" sounds a bit like "looking left and right when I cross the road just isn't necessary any more..."
How close would you like any at risk family members to get to one of the million covid cases in uk at the moment? Vaccination is not a nuisance, it's a wonderful thing, and I'm grateful for it - have it if you can!

In your first post you say "I'm 35, have MS ( not on any medication and I don't really have any symptoms apart from fatigue )" and then most recently you say "The DMT I take has that deadly brain infection as a rare side effect. Freaks me out!"

Are you on DMTs or not? Because if you are you then your consultant should be reccommended you are vaccinated. In fact all consultants should be advising the vaccine for all patients with MS because if you have a bad relapse and then catch covid things can become much more complicated.

I had my fourth, and I've just been invited for my fifth (although I am unsure if this is just an error). I am on an immunomodulator for MS and an immunosurpressant for another illness.

@YorkshireYarns - there are certain "rules" to get treatments, not everyone is offered it and for some it can be a very long wait. The "rules" have changed recently so more people are being offered it, including two treatments for women of child-bearing age (who want to have children). Thankfully there are a lot more options than say three years ago.

If you have a flu jab are you " being sheep"? I'm having my 4th later this month. Has a bad reaction after 2nd but it only lasted 24 hours.

I am waiting to go back on treatment. But it will be the same one I was on previously.