What Is ‘Long Vax?’ Symptoms Linked To COVID-19 Shot Baffle Docs

The concept of “long COVID” has gained attention, referring to the lingering symptoms experienced by individuals even after recovering from COVID-19. Now, a new phenomenon called “long vax” has emerged, describing a rare set of symptoms that persist for months after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander, a neurologist and researcher at Harvard Medical School, explained that initially, these cases seemed coincidental, but as more patients were observed, the pattern became clearer. She stated, “But by the time you’ve seen 10, 20 [patients], where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

The symptoms associated with long vax can resemble those of long COVID, including headaches, intense fatigue, abnormal heart rate, and blood pressure. Patients have reported tingling sensations, electric shock-like feelings, burning pain, and blood circulation issues that occur weeks, days, or even hours after vaccination. Some symptoms resemble those of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), such as weakness, heart rate fluctuations, fatigue, and brain fog.

Doctors are cautious about openly discussing the possibility of a long vax syndrome due to concerns that it could be exploited by anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists. Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s vaccine division, acknowledged the need to take the concept of vaccine side effects seriously. He said, “We can’t rule out rare cases. [Doctors] may want to take seriously the concept [of] a vaccine side effect.”

Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a cardiologist at Yale University, believes there is significance to these side effects and emphasized the importance of having an open mind to investigate. He said, “I’m persuaded that there’s something going on.”

To better understand long COVID, post-vaccine adverse events, and immune responses, Dr. Krumholz and Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, a Yale immunologist, initiated a post-vaccination study called LISTEN (Listen to Immune, Symptom, and Treatment Experiences Now).

While vaccines are generally safe and effective, it is important to note that side effects can occur. The CDC acknowledges that any vaccine can cause side effects, mostly minor and temporary. However, it is crucial to weigh the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine against the risks.

Reports of long vax, particularly cases of POTS overlapping with COVID-19 infection or vaccination, have intrigued doctors and researchers globally. However, it is vital to avoid sensationalizing the issue. The National Institutes of Health stated in a December 2022 report, “As researchers study links between COVID-19 vaccines and uncommon side effects, they have found a slight increase in the number of people who have experienced postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) following vaccination. However, this association is five times less common compared to people who developed POTS after having COVID.”

{Matzav.com}