One expert stressed the significance of safeguarding oneself through masks and vaccines, among other measures, because patients with cancer and other immunocompromised individuals may concern that increased gatherings with family and friends for the holidays could expose them to COVID-19.
New Variants Raise Questions
According to Brumble, contemporary COVID-19 strains have gotten better at eluding defenses that immunocompromised individuals have relied on in the past, which is why cancer patients are worried about this holiday season.
Brumble stated that the new COVID-19 variants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are expanding rapidly and have a significant growth advantage over the COVID-19 version previously identified as BA.5, which was the dominant variety. Evusheld, a pre-exposure prophylactic created especially for the immunocompromised group (to protect against COVID-19 exposure), has been outwitted by (these variations).
The immunocompromised group, according to Brumble, includes those who are actively receiving cancer therapy as well as others who are not because they are "immunocompromised by default because they have an immune system cancer."
Patients Can Do These Things to Stay Safe
Brumble provided patients with detailed instructions on how to prevent infection.
It's time to get back to the fundamentals, Brumble said. "Now is the time to recall all we initially taught the patients. It's unquestionably time to disguise up once more. Make sure the mask is effective, not a cotton or surgical mask; it should be a KN-95 and preferable an N-95 (mask for the immunocompromised) that is well-fitted. Additionally, ensuring that individuals have received their bivalent immunization as prescribed.
Talking with loved ones before any sizable gatherings is another way immunocompromised persons can be safe over the holidays.
Brumble urged patients to suggest that all family members get tested for COVID-19 before getting together, make sure that rooms have more ventilation, use masks indoors as much as possible, and keep a close eye out for symptoms like headaches and sore throats.
Keeping Calm When Carrying COVID-19 Conversations
Brumble advised patients to understand their loved ones' point of view when asking them to comply with these requests.
"Sometimes it can be a little bit more beneficial to simply ask to engage in a conversation and explain why it's important to you personally than to try to force a conversation upon someone," says the author. I grumbled.
Brumble also emphasized the significance of keeping emotions in check while bringing up COVID-19 measures with family members, particularly if they are not interested in the subject.
Brumble advised patients to start the dialogues gently if their loved one is amenable to doing so. She suggested possibly stating, "I would really want to be able to spend time with you, but I'm interested whether you've heard yet about the things that have been changing in the past couple of weeks that are going to potentially affect immunocompromised persons.
As an illustration of how to strike up a discussion, she stated, "It's crucial to relate to them and say, 'You know what? Like you, I'm sick of (COVID-19). You are entirely correct. I'm also attempting to approach the situation more directly by using the statement "I'd love the chance to chat to you about how I can still see you."
How to Get Support from Others
Brumble urged non-immunocompromised individuals to show compassion for COVID-19 worry-warts.
Brumble emphasized that "your immunocompromised friends and family truly want to be near you."
She emphasized the significance of becoming immunized and suggested being more proactive with COVID-19 measures so that patients don't have to be "the bad guy(s)".
One of the best things you can do for a family member is to be vaccinated so that you can surround them with a shield of protection, according to Brumble.