On the end of COVID Restrictions: the CLL patient’s dilemma

[CLL_Canada_Group]

We are told that, as CLL patients, we continue to be at risk from COVID even if we are vaccinated. Yet the world is opening up, despite the Delta variant. Do we keep isolating to stay safe? However, this has its own risks in terms of our mental health as well as our social and family relations to us and to the people we care about.

We at CLL Canada explored the situation in depth in our latest eBulletin, Issue #23, posted on our website.

What exactly is meant by the statement “CLL patients are at higher risk from COVID and are less protected by vaccines”? What kind of risk? The chance of catching the illness or the chance of hospitalization or even death? How much bigger is the risk, compared to those who do not have CLL?

How vulnerable are we? If vaccines provide us with less protection than the general population, how much less? Does treatment status matter?

Is the effectiveness of COVID vaccines sufficiently weak and the consequences of falling ill sufficiently dire to justify continuing social isolation?

In an attempt to answer these questions, we read a number of studies, most of them specifically dealing with CLL patients. As you will see, these provide useful information, but no definitive answers.

This led us to reflect on the questions to consider in making decisions that make the best of the situation for each of us in our individual circumstances.

It is not medical advice. It does not pretend to be a comprehensive survey of the scientific literature. Our knowledge evolves as new studies continue to be released every week. Last but not least, the new variants of the virus can change the facts on the ground, as we are seeing with the Delta variant.

If you are interested in reading about how you might make better decisions about balancing the benefits of resuming cherished activities with the protection offered by measures to prevent being infected by COVID, you can download our eBulletin Issue #23 here cllcanada.org/news-and-even...

Your comments and thoughts on how we can all make better decisions are most welcome.

Raymond

Board chair, CLL Canada

[cllfisher]

Raymond, just an incredible summary of information here & I can’t express enough my appreciation. Daily I am amazed by the contributors on this forum, and the volume of effort & time they put in to help keep us informed. Just a great show of love, compassion, & genuine service to their fellow man and woman. Fantastic!! What a blessing…

[annmcgowan]

Thank you so much for this summery of the dilemma we with CLL have when making decisions around COVID. Very interesting and informative.Ann

[Justasheet1]

Thanks for that Ray 👍

Jeff

[marcyh]

Thank you, Raymond. You have raised many of the questions I have had and have answered them in a well-reasoned way with with numbers I have been looking for. Thank you! Everyone needs to read this, regardless of country. Thank you for reminding us of the ways we have adjusted to uncertainty in the past and the ways we have always protected ourselves. Sickness, injury, long-term illness and death have always occurred for a variety of reasons. Many have predicted there will be a spike in those cases because of the hesitancy to be tested and treated over the past year and a half. Thank you for bringing some much needed realism to the conversation.marcyh

[Tpdnotts]

Excellent piece and thank you. It summarises the situation/dilemma in such a simple and uncomplicated way.

[jaypax]

Thank you for your contribution. It is so pertinent at the moment and addresses the problems and dilemmas we are now facing each day.

[Provence]

Thank you so much, Raymond, I found it very helpful to read this balanced assessment. Some of it I was already doing but there were still questions in my mind that have been answered by this article. Unfortunately for me the balance has to go towards being extra careful. I live in southern France in an area that is full of anti-vaxers. Not even vaccine-hesitant but full on anti! Even my own GP! And certainly all our friends, we don't know anyone who is vaccinated amongst our friends. Even the now required health pass to go to restaurants, bars, cinemas , trains etc is not going to persuade them since they feel so strongly about it and are as frightened of the vaccine as I am of covid. And this is also a time that the delta variant is rapidly gaining ground here. So for me it is staying at home and hoping for visitors from other countries ( Switzerland, Holland, the UK ) who are fully vaccinated. Luckily for me all people in healthcare professions are now forced to vaccinate by the government, so I feel okay about going to my hospital appointments. I watch and wait with interest what my GP is going to do with that new regulation!

Once more people are vaccinated I will start doing more things again but not sure when that will be.

[LeoPa]

Interesting. I noticed no mental health problems on myself. But then again maybe I'm already crazy so how can I discern them? 😁

[CLL_Canada_Group in reply to LeoPa]

Reminds me of Joseph Heller's novel, Catch-22. Recommended reading for those who have not read it already.

[LeoPa in reply to CLL_Canada_Group]

I read it about 37 years ago. Need to reread it as I don't remember it at all.

[Kjke]

Raymond. Thanks for this carefully presented information. Much appreciated.

[Mtk1]

Thank you for this Raymond, very informative.Stay safe my friend. Dave.