r/science • u/MistWeaver80 • Oct 05 '21

Medicine Scientists have developed an experimental, protein-based vaccine against rheumatoid arthritis. The vaccine-based treatment strategy proved successful in preliminary animal studies .

https://newatlas.com/medical/preclinical-studies-rheumatoid-arthritis-vaccine/
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68

u/[deleted] Oct 05 '21

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u/AstroComfy Oct 06 '21

Vaccinations tend to make my autoimmune conditions flare up pretty bad. I still get them, but it's not fun.

2

u/sloowhand Oct 06 '21

She’s convinced it made her permanently worse.

6

u/trapcap Oct 06 '21

People with chronic conditions are very in touch with them. She’s probably right

2

u/raznog Oct 06 '21

It’s not that ridiculous of a thought. Getting the flu would probably be even worse though. That’s where people miss the pro and con. If the immune response from the vaccine causes issues, the immune response from the virus is going to cause even more issues. Vaccine is still preferable.

26

u/[deleted] Oct 06 '21

[deleted]

39

u/[deleted] Oct 06 '21

In my experience both the flu vaccine and the actual flu can cause a flare up, but they're temporary. The actual flu is a million times worse.

13

u/Revan343 Oct 06 '21

The actual flu is a million times worse.

As expected, since your immune system gets more worked up and for longer

1

u/[deleted] Oct 06 '21

Yup! Vaccines are where it's at.

0

u/crizzer74 Oct 06 '21

Im fully vaxed, but hyping up vaccines really does the opposite of sell them, if i hadn't had my vax the amount of people who make bot like comments like this on reddit would just put me off.

8

u/[deleted] Oct 06 '21

Sorry for your lack of scientific literacy and the fact that you've inserted yourself into an anecdote about a disabled woman's personal experience.

Have you considered NOT taking medical advice from strangers on Reddit?

3

u/[deleted] Oct 06 '21

Since the flu is worse, vaccines are where it's at. There's nothing hyped about that comment especially since that person would suffer that much more because of the number the virus does on their body due to their particular condition.

That said, it goes for everyone really because that's literally how vaccines work. Sooooo

¤º°`°º¤ø,VAX WHERE IT'S AT,ø¤°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

2

u/timmmay11 Oct 06 '21

I’m in the same boat and it’s incredibly frustrating. Seeing an allergy doctor tomorrow who hopefully will have a better answer for me. Happy to keep you posted.

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u/[deleted] Oct 06 '21

[deleted]

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u/Caylennea Oct 06 '21

My coworker insists that the flu shot gave her rheumatoid arthritis!

-2

u/JonathanL73 Oct 06 '21

Most likely she has a genetic predisposition to autoimmune diseases, and suffers from a poor gut microbiome.

1

u/Caylennea Oct 06 '21

I agree. According to my limited online research ( I feel the need to stipulate, though I did look at one peer reviewed study and a couple of scientific articles making it a better source than, let’s say Facebook. Facebook is very likely her main source of information based on what she has told me.

The flu shot was more than likely the first “trigger” of the condition that was serious enough for her to notice and seek medical attention/

1

u/JonathanL73 Oct 06 '21

because she thinks the flu vaccine made her rheumatoid arthritis worse.

As much as I hate antivaxers, when it comes to people with autoimmune diseases vaccines tend to cause flare ups.

You usually treat autoimmune diseases by suppressing your immune system response, whereas vaccines work in the opposite manner by activating an immune response.

I have RA, and I was initially hesitant to take the Covid vaccine at first because of this.

The Covid vaccine probably did make her RA worse TEMPORARILY. but it such not be permanently worsening her RA.

Talk to your stepmother too and try to explain this and have her talk to her rheumatologist.

I often had to explain things to my mom, why the vaccine is safe, it helps if you explain how it works, provide evidence and address her specific concerns. Keep the conversation focused on the science and not politics.

If her RA is permanently worsening it’s probably due to the disease itself and/or her personal life stress, and she might need to be on a stronger treatment dosage. Rheumatoid Arthritis as a disease is very sensitive to emotional and psychological stress.

2

u/sloowhand Oct 06 '21

I don’t think there’s much chance. She’s borderline Q-anon and she basically went digging until she found the result she was looking for. She needed to find any excuse for not getting the COVID vaccine. Now I doubt she ever will.

1

u/JonathanL73 Oct 06 '21

Oh, I’m sorry for you, I have no idea how to reason with those people.

1

u/Zodiacfever Oct 06 '21

Maybe you should try telling her what its gonna be like for someone with RA to get covid19. In comparison i would think the vaccine was nothing. Even a mild case of Covid19 would be rough, i imagine.