There is some confusion regarding COVID-19 vaccines and immunocompromised members of the community.
Infections Disease Specialist Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan says while making rounds in the hospital, she sees patients who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer, receiving steroids for certain conditions, and patients who have had an organ transplant. Their immune system isn’t as strong. Many have gotten three vaccines but it is recommended that these patients receive a series of four vaccines. She says many patients are unaware of this.
Vivekanandan says, “If you are an immunocompromised patient you need four shots. You get three doses as your primary series. First, second and the third 28 days later and then you get a booster five months later.”
Those with questions are asked to contact their primary care physician.
The decline in new cases is good news to the health care community as well as the general public.
Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. David Quimby says, “The total number of reported cases is coming down. That is probably a combination of a few things. There is more home testing available and those are not necessarily reported in published numbers. There could also be some actual decreased numbers in cases. Just because it goes down doesn’t mean there can’t be something going up again. That is why it is recommended, even though things are improving, you get your shots and take proper precaution. Until a a large enough population is protected against severe infection, we are going to keep running into problems with fuller than we like hospitals.”
Health care professionals are also closely watching the B-2 Omicron variant of COVID-19. Dr. Vivekanandan says that sub-variant is in the U.S. In Denmark, they had an upward trend of the B-1 variant that leveled off. All of a sudden numbers took off with the B-2 variant. A similar pattern was seen in the U.K.
Vivekanandan says, “I hope we don’t have a B-2 variant surge. My hope is by the time March hits, better weather, people are no longer congregating inside, hopefully more vaccinations, we might be in a better place. There is always concern of another variant coming into play.”
She says masking, vaccinations, and staying home when you are ill are key in preventing the spread.