Covid vaccination made me feel so ill I’m scared to have the second dose

Q

I had my first AstraZeneca vaccination early one morning in February. I was fine until around 7pm when I developed shaking and chills. I was so cold I had to go to bed with a duvet, blanket and hot water bottles. I vomited for about an hour before falling asleep.

The next day I felt very lethargic but also (and more worrying to me) as though my brain had shut down. I couldn’t concentrate on anything and my energy was gone so in the end I went to bed at 6pm and slept right through for 10 hours. The next day I felt more like “me”, which was a relief.

I have not had any problems since. But I have to say that it has put me off having my second vaccine in May in case I become even more unwell than I was the first time.

I am 4ft 9in, weigh six-and-a-half stone, take no medication of any kind and try to keep fit and well. Many of my friends have had the vaccine without any side effects at all so I am wondering if I was affected more because of my small stature. A It is possible that you had some sort of 24-hour bug (not a very medical term, but I think you’ll understand what I mean), which caused fever and vomiting. That being said though, the timing does suggest this was an adverse reaction to the vaccine.

Common side effects reported in the AstraZeneca vaccine clinical trials included pain at the injection site, headache, tiredness, fever, muscle pain and nausea, occurring in more than one in 10 people.

Whenever a new drug or vaccine is given to the general public, side effects should be reported using the “yellow card scheme”. It is a way of monitoring side effects when the drug is given to far more people.

More than 31,000 yellow cards have been submitted for the AstraZeneca vaccine and they reported very similar side effects to those seen in the clinical trials. Some also reported dizziness and a rapid heartbeat.

Interestingly, side effects were seen more frequently in younger people, but I cannot find any reports linking side effects with body size.

Not very many people have so far had a second dose. But during trials, reactions after the next dose were milder and fewer were also reported.

I suggest you contact your GP and discuss what happened. Certainly one of you should report it on the yellow card scheme.

Though the first dose gives good immunity, it is boosted by a second and your doctor is the best person to advise whether to go ahead.

Q

I am 79 years old and for the last two months I’ve been having pain in the right side of my neck. When it happens my head freezes for a few seconds. I’m otherwise healthy. I’d like

to talk to a doctor but where I live it’s

not easy. Any advice about what is wrong and what I can do about it would be helpful.

A At your age, it is unfortunately inevitable that you will have some wear and tear in the bones and the cartilage discs in between them in your neck.

This can in turn lead to spasm in the muscles of the head, which run over the surface of the scalp and top of the face.

It’s why stiffness of the neck can often lead to tension-type headaches right across the forehead and I suspect this is why your head freezes when you suffer neck pain.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are complaining currently about having problems talking to their doctor about their concerns.

This is almost certainly because since the start of the pandemic, GP practices have had to completely change the way that they work to help keep both their patients and staff as safe as possible.

It’s no longer possible to simply arrange an appointment to go in and see your doctor.

Instead, the doctor will want to talk to you first and then will only see you if it’s really necessary.

You should be able to arrange a phone appointment either via your practice website or by contacting the reception staff.

Q

I have just been given an appointment for my Covid-19 vaccine, but I am due to have an injection for my weak bones a couple of days beforehand.

Everyone tells me when they go for their vaccine that they cannot have it if they have had another shot in the past week – so should I cancel the bone one?

I’m keen to get the Covid-19 jab as soon as possible. A None of the Covid vaccinations should be given within a week of any other vaccination for an infectious disease, but this is very different from the jab you are given for your weak bones.

The most common injection given for osteoporosis is denosumab (Prolia) and it is perfectly safe for you to have this on the same day and certainly within a week of your coronavirus vaccination.

It will not interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Similarly, other injections and infusions to treat osteoporosis can be given within a week of any of the Covid vaccines and it is important that you should continue with this type of treatment.

You can get more information about osteoporosis and the Covid vaccination from the Royal Osteoporosis Society.

Contact the charity on 0808 800 0035, or visit theros.org.uk.

● If you have a health question for Dr Leonard, email her in confidence at yourhealth@express.co.uk. Dr Leonard regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence or reply to everyone.