Huzzah!
Just 1 note for future reference: Better to take Tylenol than NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aspirin), because you want some inflammation provoking your immune system and NSAIDs tend to suppress it. I only take Tylenol after COVID vaccines when/if I get a real fever (for me, that's over 99), and even then it's more for comfort.
The reason for that is because these are not vector vaccines - they have no virus in them, only carrier mRNA, so the immune mechanism is slightly different.
With vector vaccines I just ride it out if I get a fever. Cool washcloth with peppermint oil maybe, that's it.
Flu vaccine in the US changes yearly based on what happens in the Southern Hemisphere in their winter. Influenza mutates constantly, and new strains evolve in Asia on a regular basis.
I had Hong Kong Flu in that pandemic as a kid - awful.
As an adult I got flu shots starting in about 1986, and have gotten them yearly since. In that time I have gotten very sick with flu 3 times. In each case it was because the CDC miscalculated and the flu mutated beyond the scope of that year's concoction. I also got flu 2-3 other times, confirmed on rapid test, but very mild - achey and fever mostly. That was because the flu mutated a little bit, but not enough to completely evade vax protection.
Just an interesting note on genetics, archaeology, history. It turns out Black Death - that we know decimated Europe in the 1300s, and which we know got to Europe via rats on trade ships that landed in Sicily, was actually circulating at least 100 years earlier, possibly 1000 years.
Turns out marmots were spreading it in the area between Kyrgyzstan and China - specifically to the Mongols, who in their conquests spread it worldwide, including into Persia. They may have even weaponized it.
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/natural-histories/black-death-new-culprit
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2732530/
Footnote: Yersinia Pestis (aka Black Death) is a bacterium, not a virus. Some evidence shows it has been around for thousands of years, in different forms.
If anyone was interested in reading more about the potential of the flu vaccine to help protect against COVID, here is a more recent study than the one I had read in 2020. But it had similar findings.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01315-9
@laura-f I realize that for various reasons the annual flu vaccine may vary in effectiveness and that it's never 100% anyway.
But for me- for whatever reason- it has been 100% effective over the last 30 years so that is why I was wondering about it. (I should go knock on some wood now and throw salt over my shoulder.)
@jeanne-mayell I hope you're still feeling well after the booster shot? I'd like to hear from anyone who's gotten it on how they fared.
My husband got both the flu shot and the COVID booster today. So far his COVID shot arm is a little sore, and the flu shot arm just a tiny, tiny bit.
@ana I am feeling fine. I wish I had taken Tylenol instead of Ibuprofen after the shot. I had forgotten that Ibuprofen can lessen the rise of antibodies that we want from the shot. But I'll be getting tested soon for my antibodies so I'll see how much impact, if any, that had. And I feel so much better to have a vaccine that covers the dreaded Omicron and a few other variants.
Hi all - I got my updated booster yesterday afternoon.
First of all - fyi they were turning away people who don't have insurance - "Sorry the government is not giving out free shots anymore." This was at a Walgreens, so if you know uninsured people who need the new booster, tell them to contact their local Dept. of Health, because none of the pharmacies are doing that anymore.
Second - this one knocked me for quite the loop! By bedtime I was a little light headed and nauseous, but I kept pushing water and went to bed. By 3am I woke up with chills so bad my teeth were chattering! I'm still in our guest room due to hubby's COVID recovery (we both tested negative yesterday morning, so I could get that shot), and one of our cats, Django, has been staying with me the whole time. He was such a good boy! Curled up closer to me while I was shivering, and eventually I got up to find an extra blanket for us both to cuddle up in, which helped. This morning still nauseous, achy and headache. So breakfast was a piece of toast, Mexican Coke, and 2 Tylenol. I try to ride these things out, but I have stuff to do today so Tylenol it is. The Coke really settled my tummy too - old school! Never got nausea from these COVID boosters... interesting...
I will get the flu shot next month - 2 at a time is too much for me, and I prefer not to get it too early as it only lasts about 5 months, and sometimes flu doesn't peak til early Spring.
My husband, who got both the COVID and the flu shot yesterday morning, said he felt a little tired and down last night but today he feels fine.
Since we are updating. Hubby and I both got our bivalent booster last night. First time getting the Moderna.
Looks like I have had a localized reaction to the Moderna, as I have a small rash at the injection site.
Other than that, a sore arm started last night. Since about lunch today, the fatigue has set in and a very mild headache off and on. The pain in my arm has increased throughout the day.
Finally 22.5 hours post injection I have given up and taken my NSAID.
Hubby is dealing with fatigue and sore arm as well.
@laura-f Walgreens corporate has been alerted to this behavior. Technically they are violating CDC regulations if they are denying COVID-19 vaccines to the uninsured.
There was a Twitter thread about it:
https://twitter.com/thrasherxy/status/1568022598344409089?s=21&t=SpuIYB9ttkYZ3H-H_Gg8-A
and yes, vaccines.gov does state that the COVID-19 vaccines are free and and insurance card is not required. (I double checked before posting).
I would not be too hard on yourself for that Ibuprofen dose. I feel with just that one dose of Ibuprofen your body would process that quickly, within a few hours so the development of antibodies would not be dramatically hindered.
I believe it takes a couple of weeks before the new antibodies would be in full force.
I also scheduled the latest vaccine for a Friday, from previous experience the Covid vaccines I've had really packed a punch.
However not this time, just a sore arm.
Nice to have a pleasant surprise!
I reported my observations to the EthicsPoint online hotline (via the Walgreens site). If enough people do that, it will stop the behavior.
Meanwhile, feeling like crap. I've had both Pfizer and Moderna and these Moderna shots are really strong.
Bingeing Will & Grace while curled up in the family room under a blankie, eating (GF) pretzels and sipping soda water and taking more Tylenol.
How’s everyone feeling today?
Arm is 90% better and my fatigue is gone.
@April I feel great. It's been, what, four days since my shot and no symptoms any more.
All four of us (me, husband, two teen girls) got both our flu shots and COVID bivalent boosters this past weekend. My husband and one daughter had a day of chills, fatigue, headache, but felt better after a day/day 1/2. My other daughter and I were a bit tired, but nothing too bad. All of us had sore arms for a day (lingering sore spot at shot site...I think from the flu shot.)