Good to know the match is better. I keep going back and forth on when to get it!
Also of note: Comniraty, Spikevax, and mNEXSPIKE this year target LP.8.1, which is one of the close ancestors of the recombinant XFG that is predominant now. Nuvaxovid has not changed its target, which is the more distant ancestor JN.1.
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I got mNEXSPIKE (under 65 yo) at my local independent pharmacy in MA today - itâs the only vaccine that they have in stock, so everyone is getting the same one. Curious about side effects!
I got the mNexspike shot a couple of weeks ago, and had basically no side effects, other than maybe feeling a little tired that afternoon. It also didnât hurt nearly as much as the Spikevax shots Iâve gotten in the past. My arm was only a little sore that day and maybe the next morning. Before, my arm always ached a lot for several days.
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I just felt âoffâ for about 24 hours, and my arm was sore. But that was it.
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Both H and I felt a little peaked after getting mNEXSPIKE but each of us took a NSAID and felt fine after a good nightâs sleep. H used to feel poorly for 48-72 hours until I convinced him to take an Alleve as soon as he had 1st signs of feeling poorly, which helped reduce how long he felt badly.
I normally have little to no reaction (but home I am still building immunities). My lung doc said Iâm just lucky and trust the system and process, so I am trusting and so far have been keeping very healthy, with only one bout with COVID after being in a VERY CROWDED 80th birthday for Hâs buddy with a LONG program the day before my momâs funeral. Our entire table got COVID, even though many had previously never had it and been very careful and limited outings and dining out.
I got Comniraty yesterday afternoon. The supermarket pharmacy was busy. After I waited in line, they had me sign a couple of pages and asked me to wait until they called me. So I waited and waited⊠There was such a long line that I didnât want to bother them. Then the line cleared out - not a single customer. I waited a couple more minutes and finally went up and said I was waiting for the vaccine. The pharmacist looked puzzled and asked, âWho did you give the paperwork to?â A BUNCH of people work there, and most of them were hidden by a partition, so I told her I had no idea. They finally got it figured out. I think they forgot about me!
I forgot about it until my arm got sore last night. It took me a minute to realize it was the vaccine. My arm is still a little sore, but nothing too bad.
Oh, and I didnât have to pay a penny, yay. Anthem actually paid for something!!! Almost makes my $1,000/month premium worth it. 
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Thanks for all the information about side effects! I usually start feeling it exactly 12 hours after the shot but itâs been about 5 1/2 hours and I feel pretty tired - unfortunately I canât take NSAIDs but Iâll take some Tylenol
I got the mNEXSPIKE Monday afternoon.Woke up dizzy, with altered smell and taste, headache. By Tuesday night had a fever, muscle aches. Weirdly I felt depressed. Odd. Still a little woozy but much better today. (I thought we werenât supposed to take NSAIDâs while building immunity-?)
I got the MNEXSPIKE along with the Flu shot 2 weeks ago Friday. No side effects.
I have to get the pediatric flu shot. Clearly my immune system reacts to these vaccines more strongly than most. (I have lupus and possible scleroderma so wonder if that is why?)
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Just adding a quick reminder that getting the shot in the lower part of the deltoid triangle may reduce pain. My first Shingrex shot was at the very top (I hadnât paid attention) and it was very painful for a week and I couldnât lift my arm for days. I think it caused swelling against a nerve. This was very different than my usual three day lightly sore arm. Iâve asked for all subsequent shots to be administered as low as possible and have had almost no pain since.
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I think we arenât supposed to take NSAIDs ahead of the shot but OK to take it to help tolerate it after we are feeling effects.
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It could be your lupus medicine working agains the covid/flu shots. I take methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine for RA and donât cut back on it prior to taking the flu/covid shots. Flu shots donât bother me but the covid shots knock me out for a day - pretty sure it is overtaking my immune system due to the methotrexate. Fine after 1 day.
Thoughts on thisâŠnothing Iâve found gives a clear answerâŠ
Someone I know is trying to get pregnant. The COVID vax is recommended for pregnant women.
It seems that benefits of a booster wane quickly and are gone at 4 - 6 months. Hence the twice (at least ) yearly regiment for the âelderlyâ.
So, should someone trying to get pregnant get a booster now? What if they conceive in the next 4 weeksâŠ.do they need ANOTHER booster in 6 months to keep the babyâs immunity active?
Or..does one wait until pregnantâŠthen get a shot immediately, then again at 6 months?
Yes. she could ask her OB. The last pregnancy was post COVID vaccine. She got the first dose about 48 hours before finding out she was pregnant. When asking about the go forward recommendationsâŠshe was told CA gynoâs are saying get the second shot. Other Stateâs gynos are saying donât do it. So it was confusing in 2021..and as far as I can determine..still confusing.
@threeofthree not on any lupus meds right now- had to stop Plaquenil.
@dietz199 I donât know where the info on 4-6 months comes from. The pharmacist said the same time frame for immunity. I was in a John Hopkins study that showed antibodies lasted 3 months. Of course there are other aspects to immunity besides antibodies.
I found one reference to pregnant women getting a COVID vaccine every 6 months, which, it seems, is not being changed by the government though it was threatened at one point. OBâs might be confused as we all are! Great question. It seems prudent to get vaccinated while trying because there is a whole month when you donât know you are pregnant! I would add that masks are pretty effective.
May 27, 2025 · Previously, the CDC advised pregnant people to get COVID vaccines every six months â just like others at high risk of severe illness.
Otherwise the standard advice
The updated Practice Advisory COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for ObstetricâGynecologic Care recommends that patients receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine or âboosterâ at any point during pregnancy, when planning to become pregnant, in the postpartum period, or when lactating.
The guidance notes that data show that the COVID-19 vaccines are particularly effective at reducing morbidity from COVID-19 complications in pregnant patients and their infants as measured by emergency department or urgent care encounters. Data also support the benefit of vaccination in reducing pregnancy complications, such as severe maternal morbidity, preterm birth, and stillbirth.
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When D1 was pregnant with her second baby, she purposely (with a recommendation from her doctor) to get a Covid shot when she was pregnant in order to pass some vaccine to the baby.
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My question is WHEN should a pregnancy woman get her shot. @compmom participated in a study showing antibodies only lasted 3 months. (yes there are âotherâ factors to immunity but we donât seem to have a grasp on those when it comes to COVID). So, mom to be getâs shot in month 1 but then baby would have no remaining antibodies at 9 months. Get shot at 8 months and risk the all the previous months of exposure.
Get shot every 3 months?
Maybe get a shot early in pregnancy and then one late in pregnancy to protect mom & baby.
I would wear a mask while trying to get pregnant and until pregnancy is confirmed. Get a shot once pregnancy is known (wear a mask for two weeks until immunity has been built) which would be end of month one of pregnancy. Wear a mask months 5 and 6 of pregnancy. Get another shot 6 months after the last one, at month 7, which would cover early breastfeeding as well as birth. But thatâs me. I am sure there are many permutations of this!
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