Did you receive the Covid Vaccine?

DivineMrsM

Nkb, thank you for the additional information. It's sobering. Also a bit confusing, with Chowdog's comment on transplant patients needing their immune system wiped out so as not to reject the organ. Since that's not the issue we on Xeloda face, is there a difference? I will be interested to hear what your MO has to say.

The other thing is, I had Covid in January after being on Xeloda almost a year. So did it produce antibodies? If so, how long do those antibodies last? No one seems to know yet. When I got the vaccine, I had side effects that mimicked the ones I had with Covid—chills, mild fever, nausea. Does that mean my body recognized it and therefore created antibodies needed to defend getting the virus?

Ohio is lifting its mask mandate June 1st.

DivineMrsM

Well, good news for me! I got blood work today at Express Lab and the phlebotomist mentioned a nearby pharmacy that does antibody testing. I left the lab and drove straight to the pharmacy. Paid $25 for the test, a quick finger prick for blood which then goes on a strip thing. It shows I have the long term antibodies! The pharmacist was super nice and explained it can take up to 15 minutes for results to appear but mine showed almost immediately. I am quite happy; it is money well spent for the peace of mind!

Nkb

Devine- good questions! That is awesome news about your antibodies! I wonder how much is from covid and how much from the vaccine? I have a feeling that many MOs won’t want to do the testbecause they don’t know what to do if you don’t make antibodies. I don’t know how accurate these tests are, but, I think going positive right away is a very good sign! Yay!!

Denny123

I am on a Xeloda break since my toes are so bad. But if my toes recover enough, I had planned to go back on it a few days after getting my second Pfizer shot.

But now that I know that antimetabolites, like Xeloda, can reduce the efficacy of the vaccine, I am going to wait for a full 2 weeks after my second shot.

Chowdog

Divine, this is great and reassuring that we may be generate enough immune response or antibodies.

To be honest, i am more concerned about the CDC's new mask guideline. How do we know who is fully vaccinated or not, lets say the grocery store? I am fully vaccinated but I am going to double mask for a few weeks and see if cases tick up again after the new mask guideline.

LillyIsHere

We get vaccinated to protect ourselves since we don't know yet if we, vaccinated people can still transfer covid-19 virus. I think unvaccinated people should be worried and keep their mask on.

Chowdog

Lilly, I am concerned that unvaccinated people claiming they are vaccinated and refuse to wear masks, particularly like grocery stores. It sounded like this is going to be based on the honor system. however, given all the push back against masks in the past 18 months, I really do not trust people will be honest. moreover, we are still averaging >30K cases/week. With most of kids not being vaccinated and the general population (those who qualified around ~4/15) barely fully vaccinated, it just feels too soon to lift mask mandate. I really hope this won't back fire.

DivineMrsM

Even before the pandemic, I liked getting an early start for shopping, doctor appts and whatnot, mainly to avoid crowds and I'll still do that. I'm a balance between introvert and extrovert. I like being able to move about more freely away from home but I'm in no hurry to go full speed ahead. After a year of the pandemic, part of me is even more content to stay home than I've ever been, but it's also nice to finally have some options open to roam about. It hasn't been the worst year of my life but it has been quite a year and I will move forward at a pace that feels right for me.

Nkb

I have several friends without immunosuppression who are vaccinated and tell me they will continue to wear masks indoors for a good long time. Also Fauci said we should all wear masks December January and February to avoid the flu- if you get the flu then getting covid is much more dangerous. My daughter is a teacher and says she will definitely put the mask back on at school for those months to cut down on illness.

Who knows how long the vaccines will be effective even for those who have great antibodies. So many questions without answers

ShetlandPony

Who knows what will happen with variants? It seems to me that all the unvaccinated people who get and pass along covid provide a way for the virus to keep mutating into something worse, something the vaccines are less effective against. For this and other reasons I would like to have masks worn in public places until we can get herd immunity (if we can get only get enough people vaccinated!). Since we can't trust people to only forego the mask if vaccinated, everybody wouldhave to wear them.

Nkb

Shetland and others- I did talk to my MO about this today- she said that there are too many unknowns and many things are being studied - when I asked about Xeloda in particular she said it wasn't as hard on the immune system as many other drugs and didn't affect the T and B cell immunity- I hope all that is true. she said that the CDC will make a recommendation when they have the data. she also said most of the medical personnel are almost 6 months out on their vaccines and the data about whether they will need a booster will be forthcoming.

KN95 masks come in colors now.

LillyIsHere

SP, even if the whole country is vaccinated, new variants will show up because people come from other parts of the World and they will bring the new mutations. I don't think this is avoidable. I believe people who are not vaccinated should be worried because we, who are vaccinated can carry the virus and pass it to them.

Chowdog

SheltandPony, exactly!

Nkb, thank you for asking your MO!

Sorry for more venting about the new CDC mask guideline. I am disappointed that cancer patients as a group are being leftover to fend for ourselves again. The immunocompromised group gets a little disclaimer on the CDC "When you've been fully vaccinated page". https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines...

"If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions."

If CDC/State wants to ease mask mandates, there should be a process in place to verify vaccination status. Soon or later, I am going to have to go back to office, where I will encounter people from other companies in the building. What should I do if a maskless person trying to share the elevator with me? ask that person if she/he has been vaccinated or wait for another one?

Denny123

chowdog-I intend to mask up forever. I also worry about elevators, and if an unmasked person enters, I will put another mask over mine. Enough said (silently), I think.

Chowdog

LOL, Denny, great idea!

Nkb

Chow dog- early on in the lockdown when I had to go into the hospital every few days- people literally got off the elevator if someone else got on. In the hospital there are signs saying maximum of 3 people. I’d probably get off if it was possible and you are not sure of vaccine status and masks not worn.

DivineMrsM

Isn't there a surplus of the vaccine at this point? Since about January, people rushed to get the vaccine as soon as they were eligible if it was available. Then the beginning of May, wasn't it open to everyone to get it? So who are the people that aren't vaccinated at this point? A certain percentage are people who don't ever plan to get the vaccine. At my age, I understand human nature works that way and you'll always have those kinds of people. And lots of people will just plain lie; if you ask if they got the vaccine and they didn't, they can just say yes. Also human nature. Unfortunately, the vaccine got politicized so we have to deal with the fall out from that part of the equation.

Chowdog

Thanks Nkb & Divine!

Nkb

I just read an opinion piece saying that very thing and that this mask removal was not a great idea. It also said that many countries have vaccine passports- a code on your phone that you must use to get into certain areas and we don't have It- so we are going to use the honor system!!! Many countries use these codes as carrots- can't go to a museum without one etc. Can't go to meetings at work or the cafeteria etc. I am sure that people would complain about it, but, without it the honor system is a weak substitute.
On the other hand you could win 1 M dollars in ohio

DivineMrsM

Yes, and I hope that million dolla winner is me! Or my husband!

Denny123

Good luck Mrs M! I think that we are related???

I wish that all states did this since it might be the only way that the anti-maskers would get the vaccines.

Nkb

They still have a mask mandate in California and a few other states

Chowdog

Good luck, Divine!

Nkb, LA times says CA is reviewing the CDC guideline. Costco, Trader Joes, Sams club.. all announced that masks are not required anymore for fully vaccinated people except like you said, no way to verify.. sigh...

ShetlandPony

Phooey. I was just getting used to going places, reassured that people were wearing masks, and now they won't be. It was so nice to do my own grocery shopping and not be stressed out about it. I believe most unvaccinated people are not going to wear a mask as the CDC recommends. They are not willing to do something for other people. This leaves vulnerable people, including those who are immunocompromised or who would like to get vaccinated but cannot do so for health reasons, stuck at home again. Why is it so hard for people to understand that wearing a mask is not just to protect yourself but to protect others? And to beat this virus back? It is not just "an individual decision" when what you do affects others. Why do they not care about other human beings? And what about employees who work in a building all day and are now forced to work in a place where customers or coworkers will not wear a mask? There is no such thing as an honor system when people are self-centered.

candy-678

ShetlandPony- Yep. Exactly how I see it.

DivineMrsM

I feel like the mask issue brought in to focus just how many self centered people are actually in our midst. They were always there, but the mask mandate made them visible. Unfortunately, some people feel justified demanding their own personal rights rather than see the big picture of working together, everyone and I mean everyone doing their part to bring the pandemic to an end.

Elderberry

To All: I do not trust the honour system. Anti-maskers/anti-vaxers will lie if they are challenged. I don't mind the idea of a vaccine passport but not everyone has a smart phone to prove it. I just use a flip-phone for emergencies. I have a little vaccine card in my wallet. Will that suffice?

exbrnxgrl

elderberry,

How to prove one is vaccinated is definitely a problem! I do have a smart phone (Haven’t had a land line in 10 years!) but there will need to be a pathway for those who don’t. I too have my little white vax card but I understand that there is now a market for counterfeits. Remember WHO cards to prove you had been vaccinated when traveling to countries that required them? I got my last smallpox vaccine shortly before the WHO declared smallpox to be eradicated but that was 1977

Chowdog

Thank you, ladies, for sharing the same concern as me. I've tried to reason with people on twitter but have been called things like "anti science", "the 0.01% can stay at home", "immunocomprosed has other things to worry about. how did you survive the flu" to "idiot". Now, not all of them are anti mask/anti vaccine. some of them are vaccinated but are just done with the pandemic and are ready to move on. I really really hope this does not set us back again. In the mean time, I hope everyone of us keep masking, use common sense and stay safe.

Elderberry, you vaccine card should be enough. I would recommend make a copy of it and carry the copy with you. I highly doubt anybody would check.

Denny123

I agree and can't believe that the CDC thinks that people will be honest. Too many people believe the consummate liars without question (trying not to be too political here!) And my county is full of idiots.

I went to a local nursery today for veggie plants and flowers and more than half of the customers didn't have masks on. So I double-masked and was wearing my Susan Koman Survivor t-shirt.

I am in PA and our mask mandate won't expire until the end of May, but it sure doesn't look like it!