I just wondered how other people feel about meeting up with others now.
My son in law's family are keen to have a Christmas gathering in a rented property, as we used to pre-covid. There would be 15 of us, including three teenagers and two younger children.
My husband, son and I were shielding but they will have had their boosters and I my third vaccination by then. I have stopped taking methotrexate atm, hoping to give the jab a chance to work ( on 3.5 / 3 pred).
Should we be considering a get together like this.......
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Melti
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I must admit I am paranoid about being with groups of people, particularly children. I have just had a test for antibodies which may make me less paranoid, but have not had the results yet. We do have an AGM of around twelve people for my local village hall of which I am chairman and I have asked everyone to do a lateral flow test and not to attend if they have not had two jabs.
Thank you Piglette. I too still avoid indoor mixing but when this suggestion was raised Christmas seemed a long way in the future- I now realise it isn't far off and it's decision time.
When I told my GP that I wanted to have a holiday from methotrexate because of immuno suppression, he seemed surprised that I am still not mixing and at the time was still avoiding my grandchildren .
I don’t think a lot of people realise how worried some of us are. A friend in her 60’s has recently caught Covid after two jabs and she was really poorly.
Because having the vaccine helps protect against catching and transmitting the virus, which means the worry of catching Covid is much reduced. That is why evidence of a double jab is now being asked for in many places.
Because my chances of catching Covid from people double jabbed is much lower than catching it from people who have not been jabbed. I am trying to lower the odds. The same is true for night clubs, football matches, airlines etc etc.
I had a similar, but opposite, situation two weeks ago when our flower club, of which I am Chairman, arranged to have our first committee meeting in almost two years.
There are 10 ladies on the committee and all but myself has been jabbed…twice. Because we meet at each other’s houses and space is limited I thought it was best to explain to them why I hadn’t had any vaccinations and let them decide for themselves if they still wanted to attend. I gave them ample time to consider how much of a risk I was, and to contact each other for their views (my ears were burning!) and at the designated house on the day, they all turned up. I was relieved to know that I wasn’t on the agenda to be discussed , and that they were understanding of my reasons. Although I think that had the situation required threatening them with tests and the two jabs then it would have been a different matter - I would most certainly be an ex chairman!
I really hope that a positive antibody test helps your paranoia !
I would not say I am much of a chairman. In fact if people had given a reason for not having two jabs I would probably have said OK. We are in deep trouble finance wise as we have not been able to have bookings over the last eighteen months off and on.
There’s so much uncertainty around it isn’t there? To start with others who have had two jabs doesn’t make them 100% safe to you. They are less likely to be a risk because if they had Covid asymptomatically, their viral load is probably low and viral load seems to be a factor in determining whether you get Covid seriously or not. Kids are a worry because there is a substantial reservoir of Covid in the younger age groups, but if they’ve had it, they may be a lower risk for a time. 15 people together for a prolonged period increases the risk. If you want there to be no risk, don’t go, but if you want life to be for living, then go but take all precautions to screen people. My daughter did a group holiday in a house and they all self isolated for 10 days and then paid for a PCR test.
All I have to add is if the kids are below 12 and they have to be over 12 to get vaccinated.........they are what I call 'super spreaders'.
Remember we are also expecting flu - the flu jabs this year are a year behind.
So 2020 winter less flu, so that means the flu will have changed and very few have had it - so it will the be vaccine that was prepared after flu in Winter 2019 ready for 2020. That is how I understand it.
I could be wrong on that bit but someone will come along and correct me if I have got it wrong.
There is certainly no "history" of which viruses it might be - but equally a problem is our rusty immune systems! Last winter there were far fewer colds and flu because of distancing and masks. - and our immune systems are out of practice.
Masks, sanitiser, distance and outdoors has become my mantra and not just for me, I have duty to protect Dad with cancer, step Dad with Alzheimer’s, my Mum who cares for him and now my daughter in law who has MS ( not immunosuppressed though)
Sadly, we won't be going to my son's on Christmas Day as there would be ten of us. I'm really only comfortable with meeting up in smaller groups in well-ventilated spaces at the moment -outside or in one of those pods they have in cafe gardens where you can have the sides open- and I can't visualise any change in that for the time being especially as it would be a big ask to have windows open in the winter just to cater for me!It really is an individual decision. You will arrive at the right one for you.
Could you stay in a place next door? Our decision is if everyone takes a lateral flow twice in the 3 days before and once during, and are all vaccinated, it feels quite safe overall. But also depends how much they’ll be out and about during the visit. That’s where tests during could help. By then immunity will be lessened for those who haven’t had dose 3 and the UK rates are huge compared to other countries so ?? Considerations.
Keeping my masks too . Haven’t hugged my children or grandchildren since this all started . Sadly I may be paranoid but as my son and daughter in law both double jabbed had covid and were really poorly . I will continue to protect myself as best I can . It’s very much individual choice isn’t it .
Here in Cyprus, things have been improving but even though it's October the tourist season has only just kicked in. We are heading for the half term holiday too so it will be very busy. A friend has just returned from a week long cruise around the Greek Islands. Everyone had had their 2nd jab and were all tested beforehand. They were also tested upon return and 12 had caught covid probably during one of the many stop offs. We became used to staying in and staying careful during lock down and it seems to have become the norm for us. We don't join any large gatherings, either indoors or outdoors, and wear our masks according to the rules. Anti social? Maybe, but we're happier this way.......
You may like to search on ‘socialising’ as a similar question recently got a lot of answers. But, at the end of the day, it’s an individual decision, & not one anybody can make for you. We have been shielding for four winters now as advised by a professor of a large ‘lung dept’, before I got polymyalgia. My family & friends understand the situation as I was so ill the previous three winters. Some friends had no understanding & thought we were anti social to turn down invitations, not go to the pub, & it’s sad not to be with family at Christmas. So be it. Those who care about me understand, & that the important thing. It’s lonely, despite hubby, I’ve missed so many things, family gatherings, laughter, seeing others open presents, but it’s safer, & I don’t want another 3 winters like I had before!! Its very hard on social media to watch everybody else having a fantastic time, & makes me bitter at times. I realise this is different but the reason...to protect your health...is the same. It’s just that I have years of experience...& mine is from 1 November to 1 March, depending on the weather! Not just Christmas!
Thanks...but it’s done harm to my peace of mind & well-being at times!! Just lucky David and I get on so well together & that we love walking & nature, really. Truly truly missing our foreign travel, though. S x
Yes, because life is too short and we need to seize the day and enjoy these special times with family and friends. Even if the worse happens and one of you gets covid after 3 vaccinations it will be a much milder illness. I would ask about everyone's vaccination status and encourage anyone unvaccianted to get their vaccines for the benefit of all the party.
I think this is something a lot of people will be struggling with - we’ve been getting Out n About recently but we choose where we go carefully & always wear a mask 😷
I know that even ‘choosing carefully’ doesn’t give us any guarantees but we’re making some attempt at a new normality.
But Christmas Day with the Family is a tough one - we’re having Dinner at Home on Christmas Day - just the two of us (for more reasons than one 😉)
Hi, Get everyone to do a later flow test prior to arriving, I done this recently for a gathering of people for a baby shower.
We have the same going on at Christmas, there will be 2 extra family who I’ve not seen since before covid but both have been vaccinated, there are only 2 children but they are home schooled.
The thing is you can’t live your life forever locked up, if you’ve all had vaccines and do the test beforehand you should be ok. I know it’s a risk but then what’s the alternative.
Hope you can find the strength to have this gathering, avoid kissing and just be extra vigilant with hand washing.
I don’t think I would be comfortable staying overnight but then I have no antibodies from my first two jabs. But I have started seeing and hugging my grandchildren for family meals. They all take a lateral flow in the morning even the little ones, which I find very touching and caring, and don't come at the slightest sign of a sniffle. I just decided this could go on for years and you have to take calculated risks sometimes. I hope so much this third jab will take. I am on 10 mg instead of 30 now.
Hubby and I have both been double-jabbed, expecting to be notified about boosters any day now. We meet up every Friday with my 2 sisters and my brother-in-law, also double-jabbed. We have lunch in one of our houses or go out to a cafe.
Our daughter and her husband have decided not to get vaccinated so we haven't seen them since Oct 2019. Hubby will be 80 next May and they have told us they are renting a cottage near us in Wiltshire, (they live in Scotland), so that we can meet up to celebrate his birthday. They do a lateral flow test twice a week. Hopefully the weather will be good and we can have the meet-up in the garden. My 2 sisters are not keen to attend, so it will just be 4 of us. I am praying that they see sense before then and get vaccinated, they have no health issues and are just worried about the long-term effects of the vaccine.
Such a difficult decision for you. I am extraordinarily careful...I really can't afford to lose a day of work...I'm self-employed and losing days when I can't work will mean loss of my job. I've been lucky so far and pushed through everything but any infection is something to be avoided. Also, if I'm ill I have no one to look after me...so socialising isn't on my radar.
Glad there are people who've noticed there's still a pandemic Seriously. There are 50,000 cases today and business as usual which I personally in roughly the position of you all here, find a touch freaky. Double pronged. 2nd one at the start of June. I read somewhere needs to be 6 months before booster Potter along on 10 mg Pred, not so far succeeded in getting below, not a being of boundless energy, but it's OK, no pain. Unless of course I needed to use all the energy I haven't got to fight Covid. Now have normal immune markers. Also the following. One kidney. Some 25 years ago I was very, very ill with an atypical pneumonia (I'm now 66).. Feeling unable to breathe is not something I want to repeat and I was a great deal younger and fitter then; also have scoliosis which limits lung expansion. Really very happy to continue isolated existence. To me it's a question of overall fragility, how readily I'd cope with this ghastly plague, which is possibly rather badly.
The first thing to complete is the primary course of vaccine: for healthy people 2 jabs but for anyone with immunosuppression that is now 3 jabs, THEN you start the 6 month countdown for a booster jab.
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