Hello to All, I have a bit of a dilemma and would like your opinions. I am 61 years old with PPMS. I am fully vaccinated. My dear friend is here from another state and would like to come over. She is not vaccinated. What are you thoughts?
PPMS and Unvaccinated Friend: Hello to All... - My MSAA Community
PPMS and Unvaccinated Friend
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gracy225
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I would tell your friend how wderful l it would be to see her, but I'mconcerened about your safety.
Leslie
Thank you for replying, Leslie. I'm concerned about my health too! I can't believe this didn't occur to me prior.
you were a lot nicer about it than i was lbenmaor 😜
If you can perhaps meet outside for a coffee, tea, pumpkin-spiced latte and BOTH wear masks and socially distance, I feel it would be possible. Don't hug them, maybe an elbow bump?
Explain the your legitimate concern (for anyone, and not just folks over age 50, with pre-existing conditions, etc.). Mask up and socially distance and VENTILATE OUTSIDE (Don't Share Your Air!).
Great that you're vacc'd. I had my third Moderna shot a few weeks ago. Each shot wiped me out; but I did it as my doctor recommended, right?
Stay Safe & Stay Positive!
🙂
Your health should come first, you got protected by doing the shots, but it’s not a 💯 percent either. I agree meeting out side of your home makes better sense if you do meet. Sit across the table and wear your mask 😷 and ask if she would be kind enough to wear hers. It’s not much to ask as your health is important 👍 Good luck on decision 🤞🙏😉🤗🐾🐾🐾🐾
NO. it's blunt and unapologetic. i don't know if you saw this, but colin powell just died from covid and he was fully vaccinated. there are too many instances of breakthrough covid and you are high risk in more than one area.
a true friend would care about you enough to facetime or reschedule to see you post vaccination.
Colin Powell had an underlying condition, blood cancer along with advanced age. Vaccines are effective. We just need to be more diligent when out and about.
right! that was my point. he had parkinson's and cancer... was vaccinated, got covid and died. i'm not trying to be alarmist, but i think all of us on this site have pre-existing conditions that put us at high risk so it's our best bet to take that extra precaution.
my sister is coming over soon. since she has a young child and hasn't quarantined (she and her husband work, her son is in school), they will not see me. when i go back to the areas where she's been in the house, the first thing i'll do is disinfect everything.
I totally agree.
I'd ask her to take a test prior to meeting with her and would follow Dmc039 advice.
Even though your friend is unvaccinated, there's only a very small chance she has Covid, just as there is a chance you have Covid. If she is being very careful (which she likely is since she hasn't had Covid yet) you should be fine to visit wearing masks in a well ventilated area. It's just stupid to act like everyone who isn't vaccinated is dirty scum who is going to give you Covid.
I agree with you! I haven't been vaccinated & I was careless one weekend around people at a church event & didn't sanitize my hands after leaving. I wasn't in my own car so my routine was different. I, as well as several others, ended up with Covid. My husband has been vaccinated, & has several underlying health conditions. He didn't get Covid nor did he wear a mask, but he kept his hands washed. I wore a mask & gloves in the common areas of our house & stayed in my room the rest of the time. I am 66 years old with chronic bronchitis along with MS. I didn't get severely sick with Covid, but I did get an upper respiratory infection that turned into bronchitis. As soon as I noticed it was coming on I used my inhaler, got to the doctor immediately to get antibiotics. I didn't need to go to the hospital. I was also taking Vit D, C & zinc before I contracted Covid. The doctor was going to tell me to take them & was glad to hear that I already was. Covid isn't airborne, it is carried by the saliva in your mouth when you talk. If you stay 6ft away you won't inhale it. If you are closer than that, wear a mask. Keeping your hands clean, especially before touching your face or eating is the most important thing you can do to keep from catching any disease. And stop listening to the vaccine propaganda that you will die if you don't get vaccinated or you will get Covid even if you are. My husband & I are living proof that's not completely true.
If I were in your shoes I'd be making a decision partly based on the reasons WHY she is not yet vaccinated. If she's subscribing to the various conspiracy theories and unproven anti-vax paranoia I'd be saying fine, we'll talk on the phone but no face -to-face meeting. If she has a good reason such as a genuine health issue which is why she's not vaxed yet then maybe a meet up outside and with good social distancing and other precaustions.
Even though you've had the vax it is not a 100% cast-iron guarantee that you won't get COVID or can't pass on COVID if you do get it - it simply reduces the odds very significantly of those things happening, and means that if you do get COVID the odds are that you will have a much less severe case than if you were not vaxed, and are much less likely to end up in hospital or ICU on a ventilator. However, you have MS, and even if you are not on an MS drug which is known to reduce the strength of vaccine responses, anyone with MS still has a rogue immune system - which is why you have MS in the first place.
So, I'd be erring on the side of caution right the way through. And if she is anti-vax for unsubstantiated reasons it might give her cause to reconsider her stance - after all, the vaccines have now been given to millions and millions of people worldwide and the population hasn't been decimated by vaccine reactions yet (despite the scaremongering of some people), and it's mostly those who have not been vaccinated who are clogging up health systems and preventing vaccinated people from getting access to treatments and surgeries they need.
Whatever decision you make, you need to feel comfortable with it, and not pressured into doing something you're not happy with. You need to look after your own health first and foremost.
"WHY she is not yet vaccinated" shouldn't make any difference (I think).
Because the WHY is an indicator of attitudes and if not having been vaxxed yet is due to that person being a subscriber to conspiracy theories and all the other BS which has been peddled about the COVID vaxes then it will also be an indicator as to whether someone is likely to be respectful of requests to wear mask and socially distance if a meet up is face-to-face. As it is, ordinary people lack understanding of the additional risks that immune-compromised people face, so people who think the whole COVID thing is a hoax or that vaccines put surveillance microchips into people or any of the other totally rubbish myths and conspiracies that are doing the rounds are even less likely to understand or be considerate.
Frances_B i was thinking that, but i didn't want to say it😶. if you're both out in public wearing masks and distancing it would be safer, but if she's telling herself covid is fake &etc, how likely is she to respect the protocols?
it's a hard choice.
Trust your deep real you
Also seeing friends an family is a healing moment
There's a consensus in these responses, if that's what you needed. Breakthrough infections do occur; people can transmit the virus when they are asymptomatic; DMTs for MS affect your immune system (increase your vulnerability to other infections); your health is precious. If you, like Colin Powell, are in the small minority of those who contract COVID, even the best medical care in the world may not be enough to save your life.
That's a choice you have to make.
As for myself, I am not vaccinated, nor have any plans to do that.
No dilemma at all grace— use the phone and video chat! I have learned that the reason some is not vaccinated is their own personal belief, if they have theirs, then so should you! Good luck!
Will be in prayer that you find peace in your decision. I have decided to take the vaccine on this wk and believing all will go well🙏🏾
No one has asked the most important question that I see. Are you on immunosuppressive treatment for your MS? If so, the vaccines won’t work as well for you and you’re particularly vulnerable and at risk for more severe Covid should you become infected. In this case it’s a no-brainer, NO is the only safe response. If you’re not immunocompromised, you’re still at increased risk because of your MS, and in your position I would still answer no to any in person visit. Be safe.
If you are fully vaccinated why are you worried?
My opinion is if the visit is going to make you miserable, then pass.
This is not an MS question. Tell her to get vaccinated.
A couple of things would come into play here. Are you on any type of DMT? I think Ocrevus is the only one approved for PPMS.. if so I would tell her you cannot risk seeing her in person because you are immuno-compromised because of your medication. If you are not on any DMTs but taking something else like a steroid, it would be the same story. Steroids also lower the immune system while they lower inflammation. If none of the above hold true and you really want to see her, I would tell her she has to get her own motel room, be willing to wear a mask when she sees you and use hand sanitizers, etc., practice social distancing and anything else that might be recommended. You didnt mention where she is or where you are. There are some very HOT, HOT spots that I wouldnt agree to see anyone coming from. I live in Florida and this state is a total disaster when it comes to this virus. Prevention, vaccination, everything that the CDC recommends it seems, our Governor has used an executive order to mandate against it. So that might be another factor in whether you decide to see her or not.. The most important thing is keeping YOU safe.. Nothing wrong with video chat a little while longer
Tell her to get vaccinated if she wants to see you. It’s to protect you.
Tell her to get vaccinated if she wants to see you. It’s to protect you.
I don't know the latest conclusions from experts. Maybe the conclusions are varied. But look up a conclusion from a expert source that you trust.
Hi gracy225 I am of the opinion with the majority. that is to either video visit or visit outdoors with both of you masked up. There is no good reason to put yourself at risk for covid. Could you catch covid even though you are vaxed? Yes. it happens. don't get sick if you can prevent it and this is preventable.
If it were me, I’d visit with my friend. But, only you know your health and where you’re at, so you’ll have to weigh the risks/benefits (as with everything in life!). Wishing you all the best in whatever decision you make ❤️
So what did you decide?
I would offer to meet her outside, at a park for lunch to catch up and be a bit apart. I'd also wear a mask unless eating/drinking and the same for your friend. We all have boundaries but we can find a bit of compromise.
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