Should Lyme disease patients with an impaired immune system get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted mRNA COVID-19 vaccination considerations for people who have a weakened immune system. “People with HIV and those with weakened immune systems due to other illnesses or medication might be at increased risk for severe COVID-19.” [1] Individuals with Lyme disease, who may have an impaired immune system, have expressed concern over the vaccine.
People can have an impaired immune system from an overactive and underactive immune response. “A strong immune system responds appropriately to the challenge; a weak immune system may over-respond or under-respond,” explains Kostoff and colleagues in the journal International Journal of Molecular Medicine. [2] Should Lyme patients get the COVID-19 vaccine?
They added, “A weakened immune system appears to be the main determinant of serious/fatal reaction to viral infection (for COVID-19, SARS, and influenza alike).”
Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are examples of an over-response of the immune system. Lyme disease is another example of an overactive immune response. [3]
The CDC report touched on the risk to individuals with a weakened immune system in developing a severe COVID-19 infection. [1] It acknowledges that there is limited safety data on the use of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with an impaired immune system. “Information about the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for people who have weakened immune systems in this group is not yet available.”
The report pointed out that, “People with weakened immune systems should also be aware of the potential for reduced immune responses to the vaccine, as well as the need to continue following all current guidance to protect themselves against COVID-19.”
The CDC guidance report was issued to allow individuals with a weakened immune system to make “an informed decision about receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.”
The authors point out that there is little information above the vaccine’s impact on individuals with autoimmune conditions. “They should be aware that no data are currently available on the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for them.” Nevertheless, the authors advised treatment.
Editor’s note: It is clear that COVID-19 can be severe for some individuals. There is a paucity of information on the risks and benefits of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination for Lyme disease patients. I have been advising my patients to take the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination based on a review of the risks and benefits. Some doctors have advised against taking the COVID-19 vaccination based on their risk and benefit assessment.
Related Articles:
Are you reluctant to take the COVID-19 vaccine?
Opinion: Low COVID-19 vaccine trust among Lyme disease patients
References:
- Vaccination Considerations for Persons with Underlying Medical Conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/underlying-conditions.html Last accessed 12/31/20.
- Kostoff RN, Briggs MB, Porter AL, Aschner M, Spandidos DA, Tsatsakis A. [Editorial] COVID19: Postlockdown guidelines. Int J Mol Med. Aug 2020;46(2):463-466. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2020.4640
- Aucott JN, Soloski MJ, Rebman AW, et al. CCL19 as a Chemokine Risk Factor for Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: a Prospective Clinical Cohort Study. Clin Vaccine Immunol. Sep 2016;23(9):757-66. doi:10.1128/CVI.00071-16
Susan p raboy
02/26/2022 (3:38 pm)
Too tired and sick to tell all. Got Lyme in 1999. Sent to ER with tick bite rash that developed cellulitis. Given keflex for cellulitis but not referred to infectious diseases doc and explained I would need dioxicycline. Dr kucherov diagnosed neuropathy first visit.did ok for years till neuropathy got worse spread up into my bowels. My gastro Dr told me to wash with water as my bowels were irritated due to baby wipes he said. Now bedridden 5 years with probably cancer. Not wanting to be anti-vaxer got shot at my doc’s office to be safe! Huh! 4 days later my bf home from work had me rushed to hospital. Moderns shot caused UTI/fever/RHABDO/sepsis!!!! Wish I had died!! Now my pain is worse!! I became unconscious! In hospital 17 days!!! Think carefully !!!!!
Lynn
03/08/2022 (4:28 pm)
Dr Cameron,
What is the percentage of patients and people on this blog that have had reoccurrence of Lyme or Lyme returning from the vaccines? From what I’ve been reading on your blogs, it seems the majority are having problems, yet this is not addressed. I know you say “sorry and ask them to fill out survey.”But that’s it. I too filled out your survey last year. Other LLDs are seeing problems and adverse reactions in their Lyme patients too. Many have serious concerns and don’t want to reactivate their Lyme with co-infections, yet some LLD are not addressing this. I was supposed to be in one of the trials for a Covid vaccine, and was disqualified due to a history with Lyme. Interesting…
Susan raboy
05/17/2022 (4:50 pm)
Susan 2/26/22 I left a comment above and left out I also had AKI so UTI fever rhabdo sepsis this was last aug 24th my birthday next day 25th I was so out of it didn’t even know. Hospital 10 days rehab 7. No one explained what happened to me before during of after.my bc found me unconscious coming home from work luckily it was only ,4 hours not 8.. at first it seems like I was doing better
Then my blood flow started to look in my feet and hurt like hell. My whole body BURNs l can’t eat and have anorexia cachexia pain meds don’t work I remain bedridden. All my Dr can say is he didn’t know this would happen! The nurse says I’ll be fine! I am not fine I am in agony! They did not explain the permanent damage all this could cause. Now I have kidney infection from the AKI pool in feet not look. My boyfriend found me rushed by ambulance. Was told my little body did not fight off the antibodies!!!!
My neurologist doesn’t seem to believe in neuropathy caused by Lyme he always thinks it’s MS! The symptoms are similar I also suffer from REM sleep disorder. I was always healthy and active! HELP! I live upstate NY got Lyme 1999 which was a banner year for Lyme infestation. There was no talk you could get neuropathy only fku like symptoms. The only Lyme Dr around here is Dr horowitz he is One mile away from me but only takes cash now no insurance!!! It’s a cash cow!! I feel like I can’t go on. L
Dr. Daniel Cameron
05/20/2022 (10:43 am)
Neuropathy from Lyme disease is fairly common in my practice for patients who have been ill for awhile.
Melissa
11/01/2022 (8:20 pm)
I have also had Covid twice, once in the beginning when I was struggling to breathe but there wasn’t really a cure and then a year later, again after traveling, with a horrible sore throat. Different strands but I had been vac-
Mgeelan
11/01/2022 (8:13 pm)
I have had Lyme disease at least twice. I grew up in Old Lyme. In 1984 after several misdiagnoses I was finally diagnosed with Lyme, mononucleosis, and pink eye, while in college in Ohio, where the doctor had never heard of the disease. Before I had been diagnosed with whip lash due to an incredibly stiff neck and pain killers which caused me to hallucinate, this was before college in CT. My blood work finally came back positive for Lyme. I have Lyme again at least once. My question is, I recently got a flue shot, which I have never had, and the Covid booster at the same time, and I feel like I have Lyme again. Is there any correlation between the shots and Lyme?
Dr. Daniel Cameron
11/02/2022 (11:56 am)
I have some patients with symptoms but fortunately they resolved in 3 days. I have had a few that have lasted longer. I have my patients return for an evaluation to be sure they do not have a persistent infection.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
11/03/2022 (4:47 pm)
Most of my Lyme disease patients are nervous about vaccines. Of course, they are also worried about COVID-19. I have had a few patients who have had a flareup but it is always unclear if it is from the vaccine or a regular flereup
Susan p raboy
03/29/2022 (6:20 pm)
I replied on 2/26/2022 I believe my comment is on front page but I left out AKI!!! That is your kidneys shutting down! It was sctually10 days hospital rehab for 7 days. If your system is immunocompromised (diabetes) arthritis low lgA that’s an immunoglobulin that you need (one if 3) to help fight infections. I obviously do not give infections. I am much more sick and this happened end of last August. I also didn’t mention I suffer from cachexia for last 5 years so the RHABDO did a number on muscles.the struggle is real people lol but too much pain to laugh just want people to be aware!
Debbie
01/22/2022 (7:08 am)
I have had Lyme for over a decade and am holding my own at about 75% of functioning with use of herbs, nutritional supplements and alternative therapies. After gathering as much information as I could about the Covid vaccines, I made the decision to get both Pfizer vaccines and the booster because the thought of dying from Covid really frightened me. Other than an initial increase in cytokines for a few days, I have not noticed a decline in my health or worsening of my Lyme related symptoms since being vaccinated. My concern is that I have low Immunoglobulin A subclasses. I am not sure if Lyme disease caused this immune issue or if it is something I was born with. But more importantly, I am not sure that the vaccines were enough to build up my immunity toward Covid 19 due to this deficiency. After being fully vaccinated and boostered months ago, I still test negative for Covid antibodies. I know that there is no real test for Covid immunity, but I wonder if I might need another booster in order to be fully protected against Covid.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
01/22/2022 (8:39 am)
I agree that the tests for COVID-19 immunity are not as reliable as we would like.
Paige
01/04/2022 (10:48 am)
I have had Lyme Borrelia and other co-infections for 20+ years. Now, at 60+ years I feel the disease has taken the best years of my life. So I am still watching when it comes to the new Covid-19 vaccines. I have had to suffer so much these last 20 years with stiff, knotted neck, chest pains, candida/thrush, blood clots, arthritis, so much pain in my knee joints I am becoming immobile. I have become hypertensive now with low O2. My muscles and tendons have painful knots. My eyesight has been affected. My esophagus has eroded and I get severe stomach pain. My skin (that was once nice) now has blotches of red, scaly itching. When the Lyme is flaring…I get these small red dots all over my arms and torso. I call them petechia….but don’t know for sure. I do know the large itchy, painful, scaly rashes are psoriasis. Sleep is scarce and fitfull. I easily dehydrate and get UTIs. Some days are so painful, I can’t talk to anyone. One Vitamin Dr. told me that I had exhausted adrenals and sold me over $100. of vitamins ! Now I must consider a trial vaccine for Covid-19 that may make all my symptoms worse and maybe kill me. I have to see more data before I can make that decision. Cannot find Lyme Literate Dr. in my area. Sad and self-quarantined for now.
Ursula
09/10/2022 (8:22 am)
Hi Paige,
I’m sorry to read about your suffering. Unfortunately I recognise a lot of your ailments. Have you already received a vaccine?
I’m still in doubt.
Hope you’re doing well/better.
Love,
Ursula
Ellen K Jacobs
12/19/2021 (3:52 pm)
Diagnosed with chronic neurological Lyme in 2007. It’s the nightmare everyone says it is. I felt I needed to get the covid vaccine because I have young grandchildren. The first two shots made me feel terrible. I swore I wouldn’t have the booster, but because of omicron I did. Almost 2 weeks ago. Every single original Lyme symptom I had all those years ago is back. Migraine headache, gut stuff, malaise, body aches. I will NEVER get another booster. I would rather live alone in a yurt somewhere then go through this again. I regret the decision and don’t advise it to Lyme patients.
Lynn C.
12/18/2021 (3:00 pm)
I got Lyme disease approximately 22 years ago
During the worst part which was during the first year after, included dizziness caused by my neck and jaw area swelling. Those symptoms have been greatly reduced until after 20 minutes after I received the J & J vaccine. That single vaccine was approximately 9 months ago. Since that vaccine, I have not felt as good and have had more reoccurring symptoms of the neck and jaw pains which I believe were associated with my original Lyme.
I’m quite uncomfortable about receiving the suggested booster.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
12/19/2021 (8:18 am)
I am sorry to hear you have has a tough 9 months. Have you filled out the survey to share you experience. Here is the link https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-disease-covid-survey/
Jere
01/05/2022 (1:11 pm)
I received the 2nd Pfizer shot March 30th, 2021. I felt sick. In April I tested positive for Lyme. 8th time in 25 years. 3rd time with no tick. I live in Florida for the past 3 years. I full blown arthritis like pain everywhere. X-rays and blood tests reveal only Lyme. Positive in April, negative in June, positive in October. We’ve tried steroids, antibiotics, antihistamine, Cellebrex, none did a thing. Trying Vitamin D2 50000 IU every 3 days. So now it’s Oxycodone in Pain Management because no one knows what to do. I am not getting the Flu or COVID Booster Vaccine. I am 66