Unvaccinated grandchildren

Sorry, my diagnosis is CLL.

Not a doctor but play one on TV. You will be told you are immunocompromised, easy to be infected, hard to recover. Children are breeding grounds for infection, but with good immune systems, especially if in childcare or school. They will recover. You might not. Even if they have been vaccinated, they could carry.
Love 'em, but wear a mask and wash, wash, wash.

@bmoneyc Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

As someone who is immune compromised, my practices include wearing a mask almost all the time, washing my hands frequently and practicing social distancing.

I myself would handle being around youngsters who are not vaccinated the same as anyone else. Avoid them. The last thing you want to do is get sick! Just my humble opinion.
Ginger

Keep the house VERY limited with repairs/visitors-we have out of state family/friends stay at hotel close by. I wear a mask when anywhere indoors...treatment, shopping/eating out until we get to table, if with someone in the car cracked windows for fresh air even with ac on.

*Still get nasty looks when wearing a mask but don't care since I do it for myself/health and they don't know my health condition/s.

Do what is comfortable for you!! it's your health... Don't feel bad protecting yourself!!

I'd suggest anybody with a chronic cancer discuss specific risks and vax recommendations with their doctors. Where you are in your disease, what meds you take, etc should all be factored in. The ages of your grandchildren might make a difference, too.

Hello @gramma62, we must keep in mind the community guidelines, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/, and avoid giving medical advice.

When undergoing treatment for cancers, many patients become immunocompromised which makes their ability to fight infections and recover from illnesses more difficult and sometimes more dangerous. Vaccinations go through rigorous scientific study to prove efficacy and safety to help stave off serious illnesses or reduce their effects on our bodies. However, patients undergoing treatment for cancers cannot always receive vaccinations or become compromised from the treatment, making how they interact with others around them a bit more complicated and difficult.

It is best to consult a medical provider. @shmerdloff, @gingerw and @treehouse5437 offered some good points to @bmoneyc about taking precautions. @bmoneyc, this is a tough situation as I am sure you'd like to visit your grandchildren but need to balance that with protecting yourself as much as possible. Have you had a chance to talk about this with your grandchildren's parents? If you are able, are you able to share with your provider your concerns to see what their thoughts are on protecting yourself in this situation?

Good question--I can relate. I've been in a little "pod" since Covid: my daughter, son-in-law, my 6 year old grand daughter, my husband, and my best friend who lives on the kids' ranch. We were very careful during COVID, but no longer in lock down are prone to pass around any contagious illness. Basically our "protocols" are:
1. We tell everyone in the pod if we are sick or feel like we're coming down with something.
2. Everyone is fully vaccinated.
3. If we need or want to be together and have any suspicious symptoms we hang out outdoors and are masked. My grand daughter is super used to being masked as she grew up during COVID and doesn't mind. We also wash our hands constantly. She enjoys it--playing with soap, jumping to get a hand towel. I was raised to wash my hands, too.
This seems to keep our infection rate low. I'm a cancer patient, the older generation is over 65, my daughter has auto immune problems. We love to be together, but cancel if we have to. Same is true for other friends and family--cancel or meet outside/masked if in doubt. Frankly I don't mind because I feel we are all looking out for each other.
I'd check with my healthcare providers in any case. Life is full of risk--but I'll avoid the risks I can!

I agree! Stay away and avoid contact! Might encourage the parents to get the children vaccinated. Children are walking petri dishes..,....just thing of all the other children they come in contact with. How unfortunate for the children that they are not vaccinated! Poor decision!

I just barely talked to my son and daughter in law and told them about my diagnosis. I did tell them about being immunocompromised and how I just need to be careful not to get sick. They were kind of overwhelmed just with the diagnosis so we didn't get into the vaccination thing--I've got to give them time to process. I will be seeing my specialist in a few weeks and will discuss it, but my initial impression is that I will continue to see the grandkids, wear a mask if needed, and if people are sick we will make alternative plans. I'll update after talking to my doc.

I have CMML and can tell you that being immunocompromised is very real. My husband and I had Covid at the same time a couple of years ago. He had it for four days and I had it for four weeks even with Paxlovid. People can be contagious with many things before they know it or have symptoms. You have to be careful and protect yourself.