Will You Be Getting the Covid Vaccine?

[TiredBill]

Had both rounds of Moderna and am feeling a profound sense of gratitude to feel protected from Covid.

The idea that I might be ravaged by a virus that is triggering illness that resembles the constellation of symptoms we have with ME/CFS (not to mention risks of death and hospitalization) loomed as quite a threat over my head.

Bill

 

[Booble]

@Booble thanks I wish you luck too. If you think you might ever need an EpiPen for anything, it's good to have one. But very scary to think about injecting yes! Luckily mine hasn't been used ever. Premedication is an important part of mcas management. The Mast Cell Society's guidance is take an h1 one hour before vaccine. An h2 and Tylenol are part of my premedication protocol as well. Are you saying you know of a recommendation to specifically not take them before for non mcas folks or are you reading Nancy klimas' mecfs recommendation and she says the word "after" ? I know you're scared of the vaccine and I think that your plan sounds like a good one. This is such scary stuff. Courageous!

The recommendation of not talking any pain killers or antihistamines prior to vaccination is the current medical recommendation (not MCAS related.) I believe it's to not mitigate the effectiveness of the vaccine.

I have not read Nancy Klimas' stuff yet but heading on over to do so now.

 

[Booble]

Had both rounds of Moderna and am feeling a profound sense of gratitude to feel protected from Covid.

The idea that I might be ravaged by a virus that is triggering illness that resembles the constellation of symptoms we have with ME/CFS (not to mention risks of death and hospitalization) loomed as quite a threat over my head.

Bill

Congratulations, Bill! Good job.

 

[Booble]

@PisForPerseverance
From the CDC website:

"Antihistamines (e.g., H1 or H2 antihistamines) and bronchodilators do not treat airway obstruction or hypotension and, thus, are not first-line treatments for anaphylaxis. However, they can help provide relief for hives and itching (antihistamines) or symptoms of respiratory distress (bronchodilators) but in a patient with anaphylaxis should only be administered after epinephrine. Administration of antihistamines to COVID-19 vaccine recipients prior to vaccination to prevent allergic reactions is not recommended. Antihistamines do not prevent anaphylaxis, and their prophylactic use may mask cutaneous symptoms, which could lead to a delay in the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis.

Because anaphylaxis may recur after patients begin to recover, monitoring in a medical facility for at least four hours is advised, even after complete resolution of symptoms and signs."

Edited to add: So I guess the reason they are not recommended is that they could hide an an anaphylaxis reaction that needs to be treated.

 

[andyguitar]

In the UK the time between the 2 shots is 12 weeks. We are using the Pfizer and Astra-zen/oxford ones. I dont want to worry any of you who are thinking of only having jab instead of 2. But, although it's true that one jab does give a high level of protection, I will definately be having 2 as there are now 3 variants that might be able to partly evade anti-bodies. The South African and Brazilian ones and a new one, the Indian variant. This may have 2 changes that make it able to evade anti-bodies. Just heard an expert virologist on the radio and he is worried about it. So 2 jabs gives a better chance against the 3 variants. Indian variant has been detected in about 75 people in UK.

 

[Booble]

In the UK the time between the 2 shots is 12 weeks. We are using the Pfizer and Astra-zen/oxford ones. I dont want to worry any of you who are thinking of only having jab instead of 2. But, although it's true that one jab does give a high level of protection, I will definately be having 2 as there are now 3 variants that might be able to partly evade anti-bodies. The South African and Brazilian ones and a new one, the Indian variant. This may have 2 changes that make it able to evade anti-bodies. Just heard an expert virologist on the radio and he is worried about it. So 2 jabs gives a better chance against the 3 variants. Indian variant has been detected in about 75 people in UK.

Thanks for the heads up.
Seems as if it's time for the vaccine manufacturers to start providing those of us who haven't been jabbed yet with a version made for the new spike proteins. Seems a little wasteful to continue to be jabbed with the original version.

 

[Sledgehammer]

Still undecided.

 

[PisForPerseverance]

@Booble woah really confused. In mcas, h1 and h2 medicines are taken before various kinds of things that may elicite any flare including anaphylaxis. It's an important principle of management and I don't know why this contradicts that. I know the advice from the CDC is not for mast cell diseases, but it's the opposite of mast cell disease recommendations for both this vaccine and in general. Yes our mast cells behave differently but still, the principle of those medicines helping prevent anaphylaxis should be the same no matter who it is. I don't know or don't remember their mechanisms of action across all body systems and their limits. So I can't say anything about the specifics, just the contradiction with what works for mcas management. A nurse at the vaccine clinic today at a major hospital was talking about premedication for anaphylaxis and it wasn't even about me (I want to share this story later of what happened. Someone possibly with mcas had an anaphylactic reaction right next to me. It was an unbelievable coincidence.). And in general Benadryl is a first line treatment for anaphylaxis before it reaches a certain point, and that's an h1? Can't remember. This tells me I need to look into what that point is that Benadryl is appropriate before epinephrine and ask my specialist, since I carry both and need to know. That may just be under the care of a medical professional though and the recommendation for when people are on their own might be EpiPen right away at first signs. I know in mcas it depends. I don't want to give anyone the wrong advice. We should all consult organizations and specialists for our own conditions.

 

[Booble]

@Booble woah really confused. In mcas, h1 and h2 medicines are taken before various kinds of things that may elicite any flare including anaphylaxis. It's an important principle of management and I don't know why this contradicts that. I know the advice from the CDC is not for mast cell diseases, but it's the opposite of mast cell disease recommendations for both this vaccine and in general. Yes our mast cells behave differently but still, the principle of those medicines helping prevent anaphylaxis should be the same no matter who it is. I don't know or don't remember their mechanisms of action across all body systems and their limits. So I can't say anything about the specifics, just the contradiction with what works for mcas management. A nurse at the vaccine clinic today at a major hospital was talking about premedication for anaphylaxis and it wasn't even about me (I want to share this story later of what happened. Someone possibly with mcas had an anaphylactic reaction right next to me. It was an unbelievable coincidence.). And Benadryl is a first line treatment for anaphylaxis before it reaches a certain point, and that's an h1? Can't remember. This tells me I need to look into what that point is that Benadryl is appropriate before epinephrine and ask my specialist, since I carry both and need to know.

:shrug:
Don't know. Just posting what the CDC said in regard to the COVID-19 vaccine.
I always thought pre-medicating was a good idea as well. When I was told I was allergic to CT Contrast Dye I asked them what that would mean if I needed it again. They said they'd tell me to take a Benadryl beforehand. Now granted my reaction was hives so maybe that's why?
For my seafood allergy nobody ever suggested taking a Benadryl and then going out and eating lobster.

 

[Booble]

Me too.

Has anyone here had a bad reaction to any vaccinations in the past that is making you reluctant to accept the Covid jab?

I had a very severe reaction to travel vaccinations (Hep A, Tetanus, Typhoid) before a holiday to Mauritius that lasted a month quite a few years ago now. I already had ME but was stable and not as ill then. Luckily it did not have any long term consequences but it was scary at the time.

So far I have not had the nerve to get the Covid jab even though I was invited to back in late February for fear of a very severe reaction or/and making my illness permanently even worse.

I am much more ill with ME now and in recent years, my main symptoms have become more viral type like a bad flu with similar type weakness/exhaustion and even sometimes with shivering, fever, coughing - my ME consultant thinks I have chronic recurrent low grade respiratory tract infections as part of my ME. I am much weaker and more sensitive to medicines and even supplements than I was when I had the travel vaccinations and the severe reaction all those years ago.

On the other hand, I am concerned about getting Covid too and do not want to feel permanently worried about leaving the house and spending time with family or being near other people.

Any others here in a similar situation?

It is a dilemma!

It is a dilemma indeed.

If you don't mind staying away from others through the rest of this year you could wait and see what happens once we have mass vaccinations completed. We'll know more about whether or not this is something that is ongoing forever or mostly eradicated/controlled.

If you feel a real urge to be with other people, then presumably the effects of the vaccine will be less than the effects of catching COVID-19.

Not everyone is a good candidate for the vaccines, though the evidence is saying that most people are safe to take them.

I wish I had good answers.

 

[TiredBill]

Should it help anyone to hear anecdotal experiences, I'm approximately 37 years into my ME/CFS journey. It started as thunderclap out of the blue. I was 26. Virus. In bed and severe symptoms for about 9 months. At about 9 months I wasn't improving much, but I got up. Figured out the concept of "pacing" long before I ever heard the term. In time my symptoms (which never included joint or muscle pain) "lifted" somewhat. Severe>Moderate>Mild.

I dislike like the term "mild" to describe any form of this illness. Mild has often been hellish. But I remember worse. Had decades of "mild," with day to day fluctuations between worse and less bad. I'm getting older, 62. Mild sometimes yields to moderate.

The thought of contracting Covid is the first thing in my life that has terrified me. Not sure if I'd made been able to endure it. Almost dreaded the idea of become more challenged, and more wrecked, more than death. But I have a lot to live for. A great wife and a beautiful 16 year old son. They are both vaccinated now. Wife fully covered. Son had his first Pfizer shot yesterday.

Personally, I'd have crawled across a mile of broken glass to get the vaccine.

With the first jab of Moderna, my reaction was a little soreness in my arm. Typical, from what I hear.

I had my second shot last Monday. That night I had a fitful night of (non)sleep. In the morning I arose with a considerable headache (of the sharp variety), which are very rare for me and general malaise.

I pounded coffee and hydrated heavily. Headache lifted in the late morning. Might have called it a "crap day," where I not over-the-moon to have had the shot.

By the next morning I was back to feeling "normal" (for me). At 5 days out I'm feeling no ill effects whatsoever.

I've been in self-isolation for 13 months. And my wife and son were very careful knowing how concerned I was about catching this illness.

I feel like "we make it" and that I have been liberated. I'm looking forward to re-entering the world.

Bill

 

[Gingergrrl]

PS. To clarify, it's not recommended to take the antihistamines BEFORE you receive the vaccine.

It is actually the opposite and people with a history of allergic reactions or MCAS would want to pre-medicate with an H1 blocker (anti-histamine) prior to getting the vaccine.

I had been waiting on J&J and was getting ready to sign up but knowing my history with little blood bleeds/clots of capillaries in skin post-viruses (petechiae, pupura, cherry angiomas) I just don't want to risk it, even though chance of a bad event is so slim. I know my own body better than anyone who tells me not to worry about it. I do think adenovirus plus covid-19 spike proteins is too much considering my reaction to adenovirus alone.

I 100% agree that no one knows your body as well as you do and I would also avoid the J&J vaccine if I was in your shoes and had a known history of little bleeds/clots, petechiae, purpura, etc.

I'm going to try and wait a little longer than the 30 minutes since I live so far away from the hospital. That's the part that makes me nervous. I don't have an epi-pen and I'd be nervous to inject one myself if I did!

I know this might not be relevant for your situation but I want to post it here in case it is helpful for anyone else. Even though I will not be getting the vaccine, I spoke to my doctor about what I would need to do in the future if that ever changed. He said that because of my history of anaphylaxis, I could only get the vaccine in a hospital setting that had full access to Epi and all emergency resuscitation equipment. I would also have to pre-medicate with IV Benadryl prior to getting the vaccine.

The Mast Cell Society's guidance is take an h1 one hour before vaccine.

This is correct (although the exact time interval might not be one hour for everyone). If it was IV Benadryl vs. an oral H1 blocker you could probably have it 20 to 30 min prior to the vaccine.

The recommendation of not talking any pain killers or antihistamines prior to vaccination is the current medical recommendation (not MCAS related.) I believe it's to not mitigate the effectiveness of the vaccine.

I have read every piece of info I can find on this topic (including from the mast cell societies/groups in different countries) and have not seen anything stating that taking painkillers or antihistamines prior to the vaccine can mitigate the effectiveness of the vaccine. Do you have any links for this? (I truly want to read about it if this info is out there).

One thing that is being very strongly recommended is not to get any OTHER vaccines at the same time as the COVID vaccine b/c this can trigger an even bigger immune response and/or allergic reactions and also make it unclear which side effects are coming from the COVID vaccine alone (but that is a different issue).

"Antihistamines (e.g., H1 or H2 antihistamines) and bronchodilators do not treat airway obstruction or hypotension and, thus, are not first-line treatments for anaphylaxis. However, they can help provide relief for hives and itching (antihistamines) or symptoms of respiratory distress (bronchodilators) but in a patient with anaphylaxis should only be administered after epinephrine. Administration of antihistamines to COVID-19 vaccine recipients prior to vaccination to prevent allergic reactions is not recommended. Antihistamines do not prevent anaphylaxis, and their prophylactic use may mask cutaneous symptoms, which could lead to a delay in the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis.

This is very strange and poorly worded advice from the CDC in my opinion. It is correct that an antihistamine would not treat airway obstruction and if someone was having anaphylaxis where their throat was closing up, then Epi would be administered immediately to attempt to save their life (and it would be far past the point of taking an antihistamine).

But taking an H1 blocker (and ideally a combo of H1 blocker, H2 blocker, and mast cell stabilizer) PRIOR to being exposed to a potential allergic trigger is standard protocol as prophylaxis. That is why someone would get IV Benadryl (and sometimes IV steroids) prior to having contrast dye or a blood transfusion or anything known to trigger an allergic reaction. I got infusions for 3+ years at an excellent infusion center (that was also a cancer center) and this was standard protocol.

Because anaphylaxis may recur after patients begin to recover, monitoring in a medical facility for at least four hours is advised, even after complete resolution of symptoms and signs."

I completely agree with this and anaphylaxis can be biphasic and the person should be monitored in a hospital for at least four hours (if not more) after having anaphylaxis.

Seems as if it's time for the vaccine manufacturers to start providing those of us who haven't been jabbed yet with a version made for the new spike proteins. Seems a little wasteful to continue to be jabbed with the original version.

I agree with this, too. At some point they need to create new vaccines for all these COVID variants instead of people (who haven't been vaccinated yet) having to get BOTH the original vaccine and then soon after get the new one.

@Booble woah really confused. In mcas, h1 and h2 medicines are taken before various kinds of things that may elicite any flare including anaphylaxis. It's an important principle of management and I don't know why this contradicts that.

I am baffled why that was contradicted by the CDC as well. My former MCAS specialist set up a regime for me in which I had a rescue med (Atarax or Benadryl) to be taken in order to avoid getting to the point of using the EpiPen. It was taken as a prophylaxis for anything that might even remotely trigger an allergic reaction to be safe and I just had IV Benadryl two weeks ago prior to an outpatient surgery just in case I was allergic to anything used in the procedure.

I know the advice from the CDC is not for mast cell diseases, but it's the opposite of mast cell disease recommendations for both this vaccine and in general. Yes our mast cells behave differently but still, the principle of those medicines helping prevent anaphylaxis should be the same no matter who it is.

I agree that the concept would be the same whether someone had MCAS or a true IgE mediated allergic reaction.

A nurse at the vaccine clinic today at a major hospital was talking about premedication for anaphylaxis and it wasn't even about me (I want to share this story later of what happened. Someone possibly with mcas had an anaphylactic reaction right next to me. It was an unbelievable coincidence.). And in general Benadryl is a first line treatment for anaphylaxis before it reaches a certain point, and that's an h1? Can't remember.

That is correct. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a first generation H1 antihistamine. It is much stronger than 2nd generation H1's like Zyrtec, Allegra, or Claritin.

I always thought pre-medicating was a good idea as well. When I was told I was allergic to CT Contrast Dye I asked them what that would mean if I needed it again. They said they'd tell me to take a Benadryl beforehand. Now granted my reaction was hives so maybe that's why?For my seafood allergy nobody ever suggested taking a Benadryl and then going out and eating lobster.

I can only speculate that they were talking about a protocol if you needed contrast dye in a medical emergency (where it could not be avoided) vs. eating shellfish or lobster can be completely avoided?

 

[Booble]

Yes, it is odd about the CDC's recommendation.

My county is also requiring anyone who has had a severe OR an immediate but not severe allergic reaction to an injectable take their vaccine at the hospital. I'm glad about that. I would not feel comfortable doing at the supermarket pharmacy in my situation.

I did have an epi-pan after the seafood reaction but I never re-newed the prescription after it expired.

 

[PisForPerseverance]

I was actually going to tag you because of your extensive experience with the worst of mcas. Right? I would say the part about getting antihistamines after epinephrine is already injected is worded poorly, but saying they dont help prevent anaphylaxis is point blank wrong. Which is so weird and makes me wonder who was responsible for writing and overseeing this. Certainly not allergy and immunology associations, or they slipped up on oversight. Worded poorly because they mean throat already closing up by anaphylaxis, but from my understanding, any hives, flushing, numbness, in the face, throat, chest, is considered the beginning of anaphylaxis. That's what I understand. Is that how you've understood it?

The definition is unclear for me because if I just have an itchy tongue and hives on my lip and an itchy throat, is that considered anaphylaxis? Eh... I don't know. Maybe the throat has to feel either numb or swollen. I think it partially depends on someone's condition and how often this happens, how bad it's ever gotten. I don't have the energy to sort through definitions on a search right now. Anyway, yeah, Benadryl is first line treatment when a reaction could lead to full throat closure but hasn't yet. I don't know the treatment guidelines for the exact distinction. But I would like to know, if you know @Gingergrrl

It is actually the opposite and people with a history of allergic reactions or MCAS would want to pre-medicate with an H1 blocker (anti-histamine) prior to getting the vaccine.



I 100% agree that no one knows your body as well as you do and I would also avoid the J&J vaccine if I was in your shoes and had a known history of little bleeds/clots, petechiae, purpura, etc.



I know this might not be relevant for your situation but I want to post it here in case it is helpful for anyone else. Even though I will not be getting the vaccine, I spoke to my doctor about what I would need to do in the future if that ever changed. He said that because of my history of anaphylaxis, I could only get the vaccine in a hospital setting that had full access to Epi and all emergency resuscitation equipment. I would also have to pre-medicate with IV Benadryl prior to getting the vaccine.



This is correct (although the exact time interval might not be one hour for everyone). If it was IV Benadryl vs. an oral H1 blocker you could probably have it 20 to 30 min prior to the vaccine.



I have read every piece of info I can find on this topic (including from the mast cell societies/groups in different countries) and have not seen anything stating that taking painkillers or antihistamines prior to the vaccine can mitigate the effectiveness of the vaccine. Do you have any links for this? (I truly want to read about it if this info is out there).

One thing that is being very strongly recommended is not to get any OTHER vaccines at the same time as the COVID vaccine b/c this can trigger an even bigger immune response and/or allergic reactions and also make it unclear which side effects are coming from the COVID vaccine alone (but that is a different issue).



This is very strange and poorly worded advice from the CDC in my opinion. It is correct that an antihistamine would not treat airway obstruction and if someone was having anaphylaxis where their throat was closing up, then Epi would be administered immediately to attempt to save their life (and it would be far past the point of taking an antihistamine).

But taking an H1 blocker (and ideally a combo of H1 blocker, H2 blocker, and mast cell stabilizer) PRIOR to being exposed to a potential allergic trigger is standard protocol as prophylaxis. That is why someone would get IV Benadryl (and sometimes IV steroids) prior to having contrast dye or a blood transfusion or anything known to trigger an allergic reaction. I got infusions for 3+ years at an excellent infusion center (that was also a cancer center) and this was standard protocol.



I completely agree with this and anaphylaxis can be biphasic and the person should be monitored in a hospital for at least four hours (if not more) after having anaphylaxis.



I agree with this, too. At some point they need to create new vaccines for all these COVID variants instead of people (who haven't been vaccinated yet) having to get BOTH the original vaccine and then soon after get the new one.



I am baffled why that was contradicted by the CDC as well. My former MCAS specialist set up a regime for me in which I had a rescue med (Atarax or Benadryl) to be taken in order to avoid getting to the point of using the EpiPen. It was taken as a prophylaxis for anything that might even remotely trigger an allergic reaction to be safe and I just had IV Benadryl two weeks ago prior to an outpatient surgery just in case I was allergic to anything used in the procedure.



I agree that the concept would be the same whether someone had MCAS or a true IgE mediated allergic reaction.



That is correct. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a first generation H1 antihistamine. It is much stronger than 2nd generation H1's like Zyrtec, Allegra, or Claritin.



I can only speculate that they were talking about a protocol if you needed contrast dye in a medical emergency (where it could not be avoided) vs. eating shellfish or lobster can be completely avoided?

 

[Gingergrrl]

Yes, it is odd about the CDC's recommendation.

I agree and it was very odd.

My county is also requiring anyone who has had a severe OR an immediate but not severe allergic reaction to an injectable take their vaccine at the hospital. I'm glad about that. I would not feel comfortable doing at the supermarket pharmacy in my situation.

I'm not actually sure what my county is advising but my doctor told me that I would have to get the vaccine in a hospital setting (if I were ever to get it in the future). I cannot even fathom the people who could just get the vaccine at a drugstore or supermarket pharmacy and then leave! It is mind-boggling to me but then I have to remind myself that not everyone is in my shoes!

I did have an epi-pan after the seafood reaction but I never re-newed the prescription after it expired.

Are you opposed to getting another EpiPen? I think they are good to have for anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction in the past and there is no downside.

I was actually going to tag you because of your extensive experience with the worst of mcas. Right? I would say the part about getting antihistamines after epinephrine is already injected is worded poorly, but saying they dont help prevent anaphylaxis is point blank wrong.

I agree that it was worded very poorly (and antihistamines 100% can help with anaphylaxis)! But there are unique situations that are nuanced and there is no exact protocol for every single person.

Which is so weird and makes me wonder who was responsible for writing and overseeing this.

I'm not sure that I can answer this without getting into politics

The definition is unclear for me because if I just have an itchy tongue and hives on my lip and an itchy throat, is that considered anaphylaxis? Eh... I don't know. Maybe the throat has to feel either numb or swollen. I think it partially depends on someone's condition and how often this happens, how bad it's ever gotten. I don't have the energy to sort through definitions on a search right now.

There are many different Scales that show the Stages of Anaphylaxis and they are usually divided into 4 stages. Here is a chart that explains the Four Stages/Grades of Anaphylaxis that I think is a good one:

I'm not sure if the words underneath the chart are clear but it explains that the Stage or Grade of Anaphylaxis is always based on the WORST manifestation/symptom that is present. For example, (per this chart) if you only had skin symptoms like itching or hives but nothing else, it would be Stage 1. But if you also had nausea or stomach cramps, it would move to Stage 2. If you had bronchospasm or throat swelling (even if you did not have skin symptoms), it would be Stage 3, etc. I was having Stage 2 and Stage 3 anaphylaxis constantly in 2015 and 2016 but I have never had Stage 4 (which is often death).

Anyway, yeah, Benadryl is first line treatment when a reaction could lead to full throat closure but hasn't yet. I don't know the treatment guidelines for the exact distinction. But I would like to know, if you know @Gingergrrl

I would agree that it is usually Benadryl but I found in working w/an MCAS specialist in 2015 that Atarax was a better rescue med for me (b/c of side effects that I got from constant Benadryl and it was also more effective for me). However, when I needed it in IV form, or as a pre-med before Rituximab, then I always got IV Benadryl b/c Atarax does not come in IV form. I hope I'm not confusing things! If I start to have an allergic reaction at home, I would immediately take Atarax but if I was at a hospital, outpatient surgery center, infusion center, etc, then it would be IV Benadryl. And if some day I were to get the vaccine, it would be pre-medication with IV Benadryl.

 

[Booble]

That's a great chart on the stages of anaphylaxis. Thanks!

I'm not opposed at all to the epi-pen. I was just lazy about getting refill and then you have to go to MD after it expires for a certain amount of time. My reaction was to seafood. And it was stage 1 ...the hives were climbing from my chest up to my neck so there was fear of throat closure but it did not occur. I got treatment at the hospital but it did not really relieve the hives. They kept me for awhile and gave me another shot. Eventually sent me home when it seemed safe that throat wasn't going to close.

I also got hives from CT contrast dye. I was sitting in the waiting area after the test and I thought I got a mosquito bite. I said something to the nurse and she said, "No, that's a hive and you need to make sure that you notate that you are allergic to contrast dye because the next time the reaction could be much greater."

 

[gbells]

I'm not a guinea pig. Heck no. My cousin got it in early March and died from a massive stroke.

 

[Booble]

The bleed situation is a worry. The ratios show there is a one in a million chance of getting it but it's possible that is based on the millions who have received the vaccine that are not at risk. Those of us at potential risk for bleed/clot may not have gotten the vaccine yet.
Doctors are being trained to say get the vaccine no matter what but I still feel like I need to wait and see more data, results and guidance. If my capillaries bled from a regular ole adenovirus, it feels prudent to wait a little longer.

 

[gbells]

The bleed situation is a worry. The ratios show there is a one in a million chance of getting it but it's possible that is based on the millions who have received the vaccine that are not at risk. Those of us at potential risk for bleed/clot may not have gotten the vaccine yet.
Doctors are being trained to say get the vaccine no matter what but I still feel like I need to wait and see more data, results and guidance. If my capillaries bled from a regular ole adenovirus, it feels prudent to wait a little longer.

People are concerned about under reporting. I had a moderate case of covid in 2020 so I'm not afraid of it. I may already have antibodies. With proper nutrition and vitamin D death rate is only 1% if under 60. If I was 60+ I would get it.

 

[Gingergrrl]

That's a great chart on the stages of anaphylaxis. Thanks!

I'm glad that it was helpful

I'm not opposed at all to the epi-pen. I was just lazy about getting refill and then you have to go to MD after it expires for a certain amount of time.

I get a new box of two EpiPens once per year (or whenever they are about to expire). We initially had to do a Prior Auth w/the insurance (b/c they are so expensive without the Auth) but once it was done, there were no problems.

I also got hives from CT contrast dye. I was sitting in the waiting area after the test and I thought I got a mosquito bite. I said something to the nurse and she said, "No, that's a hive and you need to make sure that you notate that you are allergic to contrast dye because the next time the reaction could be much greater."

I agree that you should have contrast dye listed in all your medical records as an allergy. On a side note, my dad and sister both got their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine earlier today and so far, neither of them have had any problems. They are both in excellent health and have never had any problems like me even though we share genetics. I am the unicorn