Vaccine efficacy for immune compromised?

[BluePeony]

Hello all ~ yet another Covid-19 question. AARP just sent a message containing, among other facts about the vaccine, a reminder that immune compromised people are “somewhat” protectected, but definitely not at the 95% level. Does that mean we wear our masks forever? I was just thinking how naked we will feel if/when we can be out face to face sans masks!

[Paul_1971]

In my mind if enough people have the vaccination that 'protects' everyone.

There is growing evidence to suggest that the vaccines prevent transmission in a high percentage of cases aswell as protecting the individual from illness.

So if enough have it this reduces our risk even if the protection we receive ourselves from the vaccine is reduced.

Masks are to protect others not ourselves so if others are able to go about their daily business safe in the knowledge the chance of them transmitting the disease are diminished even without mask wearing, then that means the same for all of us..in my view.

[BluePeony in reply to Paul_1971]

Thanks for replying with your take on this. Here in AZ there was never an overall mask mandate, so it is difficult to know what chances we might be taking while out and about. Fortunately we can order food and the doctors offices are scrupulously clean/careful.

[Otterfield]

I think Paul is right. My concern is the small number of people who refuse to be vaccinated and whether they will keep the virus active into the future. I really don't want to sit close to an unvaccinated person in a cafe or plane or anywhere else. As I'm on Ruxolitinib, I have been advised to avoid crowds forever, regardless of Covid, but I do want to feel confident going out for a coffee or to shops. The whole topic of vaccine passports is controversial though.

[Paul_1971 in reply to Otterfield]

I don't support covid passports other than for maybe travel this year instead of a negative test. Negative test or proof of vaccine

certainly don't support them like Israel have done for access to pubs, museums etc

[Otterfield in reply to Paul_1971]

It's a bit of a minefield isn't it. I don't like the concept of vaccine passports, but I'm (selfishly!) a bit conflicted for the sake of my own safety.

[BluePeony in reply to Otterfield]

Have you had many problems with Ruxlolitinib? Guess I’ll soon be on it, as my Pv is progressing into MF.

[Paul_1971 in reply to BluePeony]

I'm on Rux. I have Pv

if im honest not had many issues. I got shingles a couple of weeks after starting it which was horrendous but I take anti viral drugs now to prevent that.

I did put weight on, maybe a stone but those are the only side effects.

my blood results have been constantly good, the only change I would say is my platelets dropped from around 450 to 200, and my liver counts which were higher than they should be have slowly come down to normal range.

[BluePeony in reply to Paul_1971]

Sounds like you are doing great, Paul. Thx for responding. I had a mild case of shingles back in the day and have empathy...wasn’t sure about surviving it!

[Otterfield in reply to BluePeony]

I have gained weight, but that was a positive for me as I had become worryingly underweight with undiagnosed MF. I also had shingles, which was truly horrible but I'm now on a prophylactic anti-viral, so hopefully I won't get it again. In general though, Ruxolitinib has given me my life back - I'm no longer breathless and my spleen has shrunk (it was huge at diagnosis). There is MF fatigue, but I manage to walk two miles every day and I think I will be able to increase this in the future, perhaps not back to my old levels of fitness but better than I thought possible with MF. MF is horrible but definitely manageable and life can still be good.

[BluePeony in reply to Otterfield]

Thank you for the MF info. I’ve been happy about losing weight, but now it seems it is all about the transition into MF. I will also be ok with putting some weight back on. My doc says the weight loss doesn’t mean good news right now. Glad you got a handle on your shingles. I didn’t have trouble with many PV symptoms, but the fatigue is starting.

[katiewalsh]

Hi. I think there are many levels or degree of being immune compromised. You need to figure which category you’re in. I have CVID, a Primary Immune Deficiency & my body does create antibodies to vaccine. My expert says I’ll get little if any benefit from the vaccine. He did however say I should get it. Katie

[BluePeony in reply to katiewalsh]

Thanks for the thought provoking reply, Katie. I will definitely do some research. I have to wonder why my specialist didn’t mention this. Best to you.

[katiewalsh in reply to BluePeony]

Hi. You’re welcome. My reply should have said my body does NOT produce antibodies. Katie

[BluePeony in reply to katiewalsh]

Lol ~ how easily that occurs! Did you get the CVID info from a bone marrow biopsy? I don’t even know what it is.

[katiewalsh in reply to BluePeony]

No not from a BMB. It’s a problem with your immunoglobulins where they don’t produce antibodies. So you catch things easily and don’t recover easily. You also heal poorly from cuts & other wounds. Worse is you don’t create any antibodies in response to a Covid vaccine. It’s not like being immunocompromised from medication or treatments. Those folks still have some immune function left unless perhaps they’re preparing for SCT. Not even sure about that. You just plain lack an immune system. As far as I know you don’t get from anything. Katie

[BluePeony in reply to katiewalsh]

Thank you for the clarification, Katie. It sounds like you have to be super careful ALL the time. Living in the time of Covid must be incredibly stressful. Stay well!

[Cja1956]

I have heard the same thing, that immuno-compromised people do not get the same level of protection from the vaccine as normal people. Also, on the positive side, if we do get Covid, we might not get as sick if we’ve had the vaccine already. I will still wear masks and try to follow social distancing, but that is getting harder to do, as people are getting more and more complacent.

[BluePeony in reply to Cja1956]

Better a bit safe than not at all. I think we are going to want to wear masks for a long while. As you say, there is no way we will be aware of which person is or is not vaccinated. The strange issue is not knowing how long the vaccines actually offer protection.

[katiewalsh]

The literature in the USA says the vaccines show the percentage of recipients who don’t manifest signs of Covid. It’s not that they don’t catch it, it’s just that they’re either asymptomatic or have such mild symptoms it’s not recognized as Covid. Being around someone who’s vaccinated I believe doesn’t keep you from catching it if they have it. Maybe your medical literature says something different. Katie