COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot and Myasthenia Gravis

[Carol Youngman]

For me, I choose not to take the vaccine because of the continuous changes by WHO, NIH, FDA, CDC, and, of course, Fauci.

[pmdwarrior]

I got my first Pfizer shot in January and the second in February. Two weeks ago I got a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine. I am on CellCept and IVIG 2X monthly treatments. During all 3 injections, I had no reactions whatsoever. Just a Band-Aid and confirmation on my CDC card that showed I got it.

[Debbie Butler]

I had the Moderna shots in Jan and Feb and the third shot in the middle of August.  No problems with any of them … not even a sore arm.

[Douglas F Young]

You might want to ask your doctor to order an antibody test. The lack of any reaction could be a sign that your body had no immune response. That’s what happened to me.

[Bill Johnson]

Sound advice, Douglas.

[Gilbert Brown]

Hello Gil  here and I have had the 3rd shot which is really not as booster , it is just a vaccine shot like the other two. I have had mg for 5 years and was taking Cellcept and the Mestin did not help me at all . I thought I might be in Remission and about the time of the 2 vaccine I quit taking Cellcept and was fine for 5 months and now my upper legs hurt when i walk and shoulders hurt at times . When I first was diagnosed  with MG I had the normal problems like droop eye lids could not hold my head up and Swallowing was hard . My primary doc.gave me a referral to a  neurologist and it has been 2 or 3 moths and have not heard from the Doctor . Just wondering it MG can come back with different symptoms . Thanks for listing to all this and it is complicated . Thanks Gil

[Dev keshav]

Hi Gil, I also thought I was in remission once. In the beginning, my right eye was drooping, plus swallowing difficulties etc. I stopped taking pyridostigmine, really happy with life. Then 2 months later my left eye drooped, and even after taking my meds still remained drooping. Anyhow a week later it was under control. I realize that snowflake disease is even with symptoms changing from time to time. Currently I’m having breathing difficulties, and use a nebulizer. I think it will improve, but I’m not holding my breath( have to laugh sometimes,)
I wish you well. Take care Dev

[Barbara Goodheart]

I had my third shot–Pfizer–five months after my second.  The soreness in my arm was quite minor–even a little less than I had with the first two shots.

[Charles Karcher]

I got my booster shot 3 weeks ago today.  I had only a mildly sore arm for the first two shots and no reaction at all to the booster.

[Douglas F Young]

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE. IT IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.

I had exactly zero side effects to either of my Pfizer vaccinations. Unfortunately I also had zero immune response, as indicated by a antibody test. I take cellcept, prednisone, and bimonthly Soliris infusions.

Cellcept, Imuran and methotrexate are 3 immunosuppressants in common use that have been shown to suppress immune responses from other vaccinations. As far as I know they have not been tested against the covid 19 vaccine, but I highly suspect that my lack of response was due largely to my cellcept regimen.

I took it upon myself to stop my cellcept for two weeks before and one week after my booster shot, and skipped one Soliris infusion. I am on a 10 mg dose of prednisone, which is supposedly unlikely to suppress an immune response.

I got pretty sick the night of my vaccination, and a sore arm. That’s exactly what I hoped for. I will have another antibody test in a few weeks to see if I have some antibody response, but I think I will.

So its fine to be concerned about side effects from the vaccine, but a hidden danger may be to have no effects at all. Don’t assume that you have some protection from the virus just because you got the vaccine, especially if you’re immunosuppressed. The booster may fail for the same reasons the series did.

I will report back on my antibody test if anyone is intrested.

[Thomas Lee Clark]

My last doc visit (every month for INR check for anti-coagulation, instructed me again not to get the flu shot and or the jab. I know those who have gotten the jab including my sister, nephew and 2 other older friends who clotted, stroked and died. My nephew was in his fifties, sis and friends were all older on anti-ags. All died within a month after the Jab. At my age and the severity of my MG, honestly I would rather die than have this MG come back. Even with the coumadin I still have clots.  Totally my choice. For me the jab is <b>tantamount to Russian roulette with one chamber empty.   I went to India without the malaria shot  because the quinine was more risk than the disease.</b>

[Amy Cessina]

I’m getting the booster when I can. I do not take immunosuppressants so I’m not eligible at the moment. I did have some side effects long term with the shots but I still want to get it.
BTW just to add to the above answer. I went to india with my husband  and took the Malaria pills.  About 10 days later I felt terrible weak and sick. I ended up collapsing and breaking 2 teeth. I almost ended up in a hospital in india which terrified me. The hotel sent a doctor to my room who was a pediatrician (who knows why) and told me I was hormonal lol. It was so sexist and dismissive of my condition. I’ll never go anywhere I have to take that medication. It took me about 2 months after getting home to get back to normal. I was a real mess. So us MGers really have to think about what we do.

[Dev keshav]

I have had both shots of the vaccine, and am now waiting for our government to approve booster shots. My opinion is that some protection is better than none. Having survived covid and know how I suffered, I would hope that if I get it again, this would help to make it easier. In poorer countries, we accept whatever we are given. In my case it was the Sinovac. We are also used to mandatory vaccinations from birth.

[John Ulfelder]

I received my initial Moderna vaccinations in January and February. I subsequently had IVig treatment for my MG (no particular improvement) followed by 7 plasmapharisis treatments (also no particular improvement). I was concerned that the treatments to reduce the MG anti-bodies may also have weakend the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. I, therefore, went ahead and got my third Moderna vaccination (booster, same dosage as original shots) 2 weeks ago. Only effect was a sore arm for 3 days. Don’t know what my COVID-19 anti-body status is. The anti-body tests are notoriously inaccurate & misleading.Keeping my fingers crossed, wearing a mask ad maintaining appropriate physical distance when out.

[Ann Marie Hetrick]

I had the pfizer vaccine in feb and march. I had a sore arm with the first and some tiredness more than usual. With the second shot I had a very sore arm that felt like someone was punching their way out. I also had severe muscle and joint aches for 2 days and increased weakness. It flared my MG up. I had been under control before the shots and then I started not to be able to focus and the muscle weakness got to the point I was having trouble walking. I had  IVIG treatments every day for 5 days and it did help get me back to my new normal as I call it.

I saw my neurologist last week and she wants me to take the booster. I am scheduled for Sept 22 to have it. I am hoping I do not have the same problem. I will update when I get it. I am not looking forward to it as I am feeling pretty good mow.

[Douglas F Young]

Wow, that’s really a Catch-22 situation for you. I sure hope your “booster” (I hear they’re emphasizing the booster label in favor of “3rd shot”) works out a lot better.

PS. Maybe ask your Dr. to order an antibody test. I bet you’ll see good results

[Scott McCormack]

My concern is that I am on 60mg of Prednisone daily which can reduce or eliminate my immune response from the vaccine. In addition, My MG had been in remission for about a year and only affected mouth, jaw and eyelids when I received my second Moderna shot in March. Two weeks later I was hit with severe weakness in most of my voluntary muscles except, thank goodness, my lungs and throat and still continues today. Was it related to the shot? Who knows. I am passing on the booster.

[David S]

Had my third shot yesterday.  Moderna.

Also having no side effects except a sore spot at the injection site.  Both my docs., PCP and Neuro suggested I get this shot.

I am on Imuran, Prednisdone, Melatonin and monthly IVIGs.  We tried to time the 3rd shot between my IVIGs.  I do not know how effective the shots are/were but am trying to keep my distance and wearing a mask.

I am hopeful.

Scott

 

[BBernadette]

I am not eligible for a “booster” yet because I received the J&J vaccine.  However, my antibody levels have increased considerably in the 6 months since my vaccine, so I’m OK with not getting a booster yet.  I am on Cyclosporine, Mestinon and IVIG twice a month.

[Kelley]

Had my 3rd Moderna 5 days ago. About 36 hours of a bad headache, mild nausea, chills, and joint/bone pain. (Imuran and prednisone) Slight increase in MG sxs. Since my neuro and PCP believe getting covid-19 would likely kill me, I got vaccinated. I’ve been wearing masks in public since before covid-19. I caught a cold that almost killed me. I’m not taking chances!

[Jennie Morris]

I had Pfizer shots which completed the beginning of April. The first shot I ran a slight fever.  Second shot all I had was an extremely sore and red arm that lasted almost 3 weeks. I had IVIg then Rituxan treatments.  Rituxan is listed on the CDC site for diminishing the vaccine so I got the booster. All I had was a slight soreness for a couple of days. Did it work or not?  I have no idea.

[EDWARD CLAGHORN]

I did have an adverse reaction from the two Pfizer jabs. My eyesight blurred and then I had double vision for a bit. The Dr. changed my meds and I did a 4 day IVIG instead of the normal 2 day. It took a few weeks to get things back to normal. I am still taking increased amount of prednisone as well as the CellCept. My third jab is set up for next week. More than worth the bother.

[Douglas F Young]

Its good to see some people getting antibody responses despite being immunosuppressed. I sure didn’t. But this disease seems to treat everyone differently.

[Rich Michaud]

I am totally confused as to how I stand with covid and vaccines. I have had MG for almost 20 years now. I am on imuran twice a day and never feel strong. (I am 74 years old now) Early in the epidemic my neuro said that if I got covid I would be in big trouble.
Early December I tested positive for covid. I called my doctor and his only advice was to to to the hospital if I couldn’t breathe. I called a doctor friend 2000 miles away and he said I needed the monoclonal antibody. I asked my doctor for that and he said he hadn’t heard of it. I called my friend back and he got me a local appointment for the infusion the same day. I was 9 days into the covid and real sick. Next morning after the infusion I was way better and following day I felt cured. Because I had that infusion, I had to wait 90 days to get the vaccine. Since I had to wait 90 days, I got tested for the natural antibody and got a positive result. That was good news but since I only had covid for 10 days I was not sure as to the level of immunity I had. I finally got both Maderna vaccines in April and May. Both doses had me feeling like I had covid again for 2 days. I am still having weakness I didn’t have prior to my infection with covid. That may be after effects of covid infection or effects of the vaccine. I have heard of multiple cases of people who got no immunity from maderna while on imuran.
So now I don’t know what to do about a third dose. It may be useless or may help. I am going to ask my doc to test me for immunity but I doubt he will let me get tested. In the meantime I am being extra careful (just as I was prior to getting covid the first time). I have heard that because I had strong illness after getting the vaccines that means I probably was making antibodies but with this covid, who knows?

Rich

[Tom A]

Two moderna vaccines without issue, booster two weeks ago without issue. I take cell cept and mestinon with minimal recurrences of MG symtoms – primarily speech. Was diagnosed 5 yrs ago.

Univ of Texas is sponsoring free antibody tests for six months, every three months apart. My initial tests showed positive antibodies prior to booster.

 

[Leora Diana]

Hi Tom. I also am doing the free antibody testing here in TX. After my booster my first antibody blood work showed >11 while my healthy husband showed >2500. This is all very interesting. Anxious to see what the next blood work shows in a couple months. Wishing you well.

[Jerry Trapp]

I had my Moderna booster (3rd shot) 3 days ago and only experienced a slightly sore arm at the injection site.  I am 81 and am on Prednisone and Mestinon for generalized MG.  he first and second Moderna shots were excatly the same.

[John G Fay]

Thanks for this great thread.

I see my NeuroMuscular doc in 10 days.  This third vaccination will be my primary concern.

I was diagnosed with MG in October 2019 (65 yrs old).  I had Covid in December 2020.  Mild case, headache, cough, fever, loss of taste and smell. Lasted 10 days.  I was taking 20mg of prednisone daily and 180 mg of Mestinon at the time.  January my doc started me on Azathioprine (increasing dosage every two weeks) until I had a severe allergic reaction in February (3 days in the hospital).

5 days after I stopped taking it, I had my first Pfizer shot.  Second Pfizer shot end of March (on 20mg of prednisone and 180 mg mestinon). No side effects either time.  Not even a sore arm. I do not know if I have any antibodies.

I started CellCept (1000mg daily) in May.  Most articles I have read regarding mycophenolate mofetil and the vaccine is that it inhibits a good immune response (@32%).  Some suggest going off for one or two weeks before and after.

I am anxious to hear what my MG doc has to say and I will come back to this thread and let you know how it goes. Good luck with this everybody.

[Douglas F Young]

Mycophenolate and azathioprine have similar suppressing qualities. I stopped my 2000mg cellcept two weeks before 3rd shot and got (finally) an unpleasant painful flu-like response after two fizzles following my 1st and 2nd. Antibody test in three weeks. I will share.

[Leora Diana]

Hello. I had the Pfizer shots back in March and the Pfizer Booster a couple weeks ago. I am taking Mycophenolate and Mestinon  daily and have been since January 2016. I had my antibody count checked via blood work a day after my booster and I showed a count of 11 while my healthy husband showed >1400. Neither my neurologist or primary were surprised by the low count, but I was disappointed. My primary explained it this way.

”Unfortunately there is not enough data to be able to reliably say a certain titer level is associated with a certain level of immune protection. The immune system is more complex than antibody levels drawn at any given time. Your white blood cells store the memory of the antigen as well and become antibody factories once stimulated by a pathogen. This wouldn’t appear in a blood test”.

Hopefully when I check again in 3 months, my count will be better. Feel like I am avoiding land mines every time I turn around with COVID and the ever changing information out there.

[EDWARD CLAGHORN]

Thank you Leora – Very helpful and appreciated.

[John Stormer]

I had the two Moderna shots in January and February.  Only a slightly sore arm with the second.  I only take 10 mg Prednisone every other day plus several pyridostigmine every day.  I was congratulating myself on tapering down to that low dose at -my last neuro appointment.  However, she pointed out that my immune system activity was probably diminishing due to age rather than MG remission (I will be 80 next month – diagnosed 14 years ago).  So, I hope to get a booster soon.

[Kelly Criezis]

My husband just has ocular mg at this point. When we spoke to his neurologist a couple weeks ago he told my husband to get COVID booster as soon as possible. He had started prednisone (and is on mestinon) and I wasn’t really comfortable with him getting the booster so we tentatively decided to not get it and wait until after the prednisone to make a decision. He had another appointment as a check up with the neurologist this week and I expressed my concerns about the booster again; the neurologist said that previously they were recommending everyone get it but now because of the mixed messages from FDA and CDC they are recommending hold off. This is not a recommendation for any of you but just telling you what my husband’s neurologist said.  He is affiliated with Hackensack medical center in NJ.

[Peter Livingston]

I had an MG flare after 2nd Moderna shot.   General weakness and difficulty breathing, swallowing, talking, droopy eye.   All the original pre Dx symptoms and pre thymectomy.  It all returned.   But, I kept thinking what if I had Covid and had a flare?    That outcome would likely have been worse.

Ny neurologist started me on IVIG home infusion.  Immediate and dramatic improvement.

on Sept 1 i got the booster.  No problems at all.  So in my mind I have covered myself as best as I can from severe Covid which could make MG severe.