Should Coeliacs On A Long-Term Gluten-Free Diet Have The Pfizer Or AstraZeneca Vaccine?
This is an interesting question.
I believe that coeliacs on a long-term gluten-free diet have a strong immune system and this is responsible for the group, to which I belong, having a 25 % less risk of suffering from cancer, according to Joe West at Nottingham University.
This strong immune system may react to and attack a two-dose viral-vector vaccine like the AstraZeneca, so would I be better off with the Pfizer?
I wrote about why this could happen in Coronavirus: Why Combining The Oxford Vaccine With Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine Could Make It More Effective.
This is an extract from that post.
A Possible Problem With Viral-Vector Vaccines
This is a paragraph from the article on the Conversation, which talks of a problem with viral-vector vaccines.
When a person is given a viral-vector vaccine, as well as generating an immune response against the coronavirus’s spike protein, the immune system will also mount a response against the viral vector itself. This immune response may then destroy some of the booster dose when it is subsequently delivered, before it can have an effect. This has long been recognised as a problem.
It looks like a case of shoot the messenger to me.
The Russian solution is to use different viral-vectors in the two doses.
Conclusion
As I believe, I already have a degree of natural protection from my diagnosed coeliac disease and long-term gluten-free diet and the resulting strong immune system, I think on balance, I’d personally choose the Pfizer vaccine.
But the choice of vaccine will probably not be down to me!
I doubt it matters, once you’ve had the two jabs you get the protection but still have to stick to the rules i.e. no running around hugging & kissing tbe ladies 😁😁
Comment by MauriceGReed | January 28, 2021 |
I am a coeliac on long term gluten free diet, who also has blood cancer. Hence my immune system is definitely not strong. So I don’t think it matters which one I have. My appointment is Friday of next week. Several weeks after my 2nd shot of the vaccine I will get an antibody test done privately, because if I don’t have much immunity, I will still shield.
Comment by nosnikrapzil | January 30, 2021 |
On coeliac.org they say that if you’ve had a bad reaction to the first vaccine (I did), you shouldn’t have the second dose (I have), I only read it yesterday. Annoyingly they don’t say why, so I lie here 10 days after the jab with a head feeling like it’s full of cotton wool and feeling as nauseous as if I’ve been glutened. But at least I won’t get covid and might be able to get off this island at some point
Comment by Siobhan | June 6, 2021 |
I had a fairly strong reaction to the first AZ dose, but the second dose was easier, For various reasons, I believe I have a strong immune system, so perhaps it felt the first was an intruder it attacked the vaccine. But later, it decided it was harmless, so it didn’t attack the second dose.
I’ve still yet to find a coeliac on a long-term gluten-free diet, who has suffered a severe dose of the covids.
So perhaps we are the truly lucky ones. Or does the Devil look after her own?
Comment by AnonW | June 6, 2021 |