Tips for Protecting Immunocompromised Loved Ones During an Active Pandemic

Because of the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S., many people have started to believe that the pandemic facilitated by the novel coronavirus is completely in the rearview. While we’re certainly far better off than we were a year ago, it should be understood that we’re still in the midst of an active pandemic. With over a third of the country not yet vaccinated, it’s far too early to declare COVID-19 a non-threat. Although all of us should continue embracing common sense precautions, doing so is particularly important for immunocompromised individuals. So, if you or anyone in your inner circle fits this description, take care to heed the following pointers. rnGet Vaccinated rnWhen it comes to protecting both yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19, no measure is more effective than getting vaccinated. Unless you have a medical condition that prohibits you from getting vaccinated, it’s in your best interest to get one of the readily available vaccines at your earliest convenience. The longer you remain unvaccinated, the more likely you are to develop the novel coronavirus and spread it to others. So, not only is getting vaccinated a crucial step in keeping you and your loved ones safe, it also helps strengthen public health. As an added bonus, vaccines couldn’t be easier to come across in the United States. Regardless of which of the three most prominent vaccines you’re interested in getting, odds are it won’t take much effort to find a place you get it locally. With countless pharmacies, medical facilities and pop-up clinics providing vaccinations free of charge, you have no excuse not to get vaccinated posthaste. While it’s true that some people have experienced temporary side-effects after receiving vaccines, these side-effects are preferable to an active COVID-19 infection. Encourage Others to Get Vaccinated rnIn addition to getting vaccinated, you should encourage the people in your orbit to follow suit. The sooner the vast majority of the populace is fully vaccinated, the sooner things can truly return to normal – and the safer immunocompromised individuals will be. Getting vaccinated is particularly important for people with compromised immunity – again, provided they don’t suffer from medical conditions that prohibit them from receiving vaccines. Walking around unvaccinated in a country full of people carrying the novel coronavirus and its variants is a risky venture, especially now that many states and businesses are relaxing mask mandates. So, if any of the people in your life can get vaccinated but refuse to do so, strongly encourage them to rethink their position and lead by example. Go on Errands for Them rnEven in the best of times, the world can be a dangerous place for people with compromised immunity – much less during an active pandemic. Additionally, with mask mandates being relaxed in many parts of the country, unvaccinated individuals aren’t hesitating to act in bad faith and take full advantage of the honor system approach to vaccination. So, if venturing out in public carries a substantial risk for any of the elderly and/or immunocompromised individuals in your life, volunteer to go on essential errands for them. Picking up their groceries, running to the pharmacy and carrying out other everyday tasks in their stead can be a boon to their continued good health. rnAdditionally, if anyone you know is uncomfortable with seeking in-person medical advice for minor matters at the present time, point them in the direction of remote medical care. Consulting with doctors remotely has become commonplace over the last year, so if you’re currently on the hunt for an online doctor, you should have no problem finding a plethora of convenient options. To call this a rough year would be the understatement of the century. Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, countless people have experienced health crises, mental health issues, financial insecurity and other prominent stressors. However, this trouble period has been particularly hard on those of us with compromised immunity. Not only are these individuals more susceptible to getting sick, they’re liable to stay sick much longer than people with fully functional immune systems. That being the case, if you have anyone in your life who suffers from immunodeficiency, do whatever you can to keep them safe during what is still an active pandemic.