The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for people with a condition called Fibromyalgia.

People with Fibromyalgia are more likely to live with other chronic conditions that can make them more susceptible to COVID-19. A mild case of COVID-19 may cause Fibromyalgia symptoms to Flare up.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective for people with Fibromyalgia. Staying up to date with booster shots is the best way to protect yourself if you have Fibromyalgia.

People with fibromyalgia face unique challenges when they become ill. Research published in 2021 has found that, overall, fibromyalgia symptoms might get worse in people diagnosed with COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccine may help prevent a worsening of the Fibromyalgia symptoms that you already deal with daily.

Fibromyalgia symptoms include:

Also, physical stress due to an infection can trigger a symptom flare-up. Fibromyalgia flare-ups are periods where fibromyalgia symptoms become worse than usual.

Flare-up can be caused by emotional stress. Getting a vaccine can help you with your health. When you are fully vaccine free, you can get outside and socialize with more confidence.

Some people who get the COVID-19 vaccine won’t have any side effects. When they do happen, some of the most common vaccine side effects include:

The side effects are a sign that your immune system is responding to the vaccine. They should leave within a few days.

There are some side effects of the vaccine that are similar to the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. You may feel like your Fibromyalgia symptoms get worse after you get your vaccine.

There are no reports of flare-ups after the COVID-19 vaccine.

Testimonials from individuals with fibromyalgia also contain no mention of flare-ups after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Also, a 2015 study found that fibromyalgia symptoms didn’t change after participants received the flu vaccine, which has similar side effects to the COVID-19 vaccine.

There are no vaccine recommendations for people with Fibromyalgia. If you have Fibromyalgia, you should follow the general recommendations for people in your age group.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 5 and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The table shows the current recommendations for the vaccine.

Primary series First booster Second booster
Pfizer-BioNTech Ages 5 to 11:
2 doses spaced 3 weeks apart

Age 12 and up:
2 doses spaced 3 to 8 weeks apart

 Ages 5 to 11:
Pfizer-BioNTech booster at least 5 months after primary series

Ages 12 to 17:
Pfizer-BioNTech booster at least 5 months after primary series

Age 18 and up:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 5 months after primary series

 Age 12 and up (immunocompromised only):
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 4 months after first booster

Age 50 and up:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 4 months after first booster
Moderna Age 18 and up:
2 doses spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart		 Age 18 and up:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 5 months after primary series		 Age 18 and up (immunocompromised only):
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 4 months after first booster

Age 50 and up:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 4 months after first booster
Johnson & Johnson Age 18 and up: One dose Age 18 and up:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 2 months after primary dose		 Age 50 and up:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least 4 months after first booster

According to the CDC, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, both mRNA vaccines, are preferable to the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. This is because mRNA vaccines are more effective and have a better overall safety profile than the J&J vaccine.

Clinical trials found that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were 95 percent and 94.1 percent, respectively, effective at preventing COVID-19. However, these numbers have dropped with the emergence of new virus variants.

While their effectiveness at preventing infections has dropped, mRNA vaccines still prevent severe illness and hospitalization. Studies have found that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines remain very effective at preventing hospitalization due to the Omicron variant.

Research from 2021 has found that fibromyalgia itself doesn’t put you at an increased risk of severe COVID-19. However, many people with fibromyalgia have other health conditions (comorbidities) that do raise the risk for severe COVID-19.

Such conditions can be found here.

  • The diseases are caused by the immune system.
  • There is a disease called diabetes.
  • The heart disease is very serious.
  • “It’s obese.”

The likelihood of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 is reduced by receiving a vaccine.

It’s estimated that fibromyalgia impacts about 5 percent of the world’s population. Its cause is still unknown, although a combination of genetics and environmental triggers is believed to play a role.

Some of the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those you may experience with fibromyalgia, including:

You may have contracted the virus that causes COVID-19 if you have any of the other symptoms. These include:

If you develop worrisome symptoms and think you may have COVID-19, it’s important to get tested. Both PCR and antigen tests can detect current infections.

Use the Department of Health and Human Services search tool to find community-based testing centers. You can also obtain at-home COVID-19 tests at your local pharmacy or order free home tests from the government.

Medicare may cover the costs of home tests. Check with your provider for more information.

The vaccine is effective for people with Fibromyalgia. There are no reports of side effects in people with Fibromyalgia who have been vaccined. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia may get worse if COVID-19 is developed. Getting a vaccine will help protect you from a severe illness and prevent a mild case of COVID-19 from triggering a flare up.

There are no vaccine guidelines for people with Fibromyalgia. The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 5 get a full vaccine series.

Discuss vaccine-related questions with your doctor if you have any.