1. < Transplants

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question.

Posted by silverwoman @silverwoman, Jan 4, 2021

<p>I know I am not the only post-transplant patient who is thinking about getting the coVID vaccination. My nurse coordinator has told me that the transplant team at Jacksonville has not approved vaccination yet because of the lack of experience with it for our group. One of the Infectious Disease doctors has indicated in a Mayo communication that transplants should be getting vaccinated. The nurse coordinator has said that if we choose to get vaccinated then we should do our laboratories once a week. I'm frustrated and confused by the lack of clear guidance and seemingly conflicting opinions. Is anybody else feeling like this? Have you made any decisions about when and if you will get vaccinated?</p>

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 7, 2021
In reply to @ess77 "Hi, Charlie. I've had a couple of friends, in their 70's, who have died from covid...." + (show)
@ess77

Hi, Charlie. I've had a couple of friends, in their 70's, who have died from covid. Another friend is about 47 and was in ICU for a couple of weeks, almost put on a ventilator, but a medication they gave him at that time, don't know what, with additional oxygen pulled him through.

He kept a journal of his experience. Amazingly frightening for him. I do not trust, not necessarily the numbers, as they can be manipulated to say what you want, but I do trust the facts of the % of deaths and serious illness for those over 65. And, the lasting effects. He seems to be ok, although there are some issues re his heart he didn't have before covid. So, watching and praying with him.

I don't plan and will do everything in my power to keep from getting covid! As will I suspect most of us. I have too many other things going on in this body at the moment that I don't think I would have the same experience as you.

Got the Maderno vaccine Tuesday at Mayo. So far, no side effects. Not one. I'm amazed. But, the 2nd shot in a few weeks might be a real bugger. Stay tuned.
Blessings. Elizabeth

Jump to this post

I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems to be a hurdle to cross in getting even the first dose. Having contacted our county's public health director, I will be sending a message to my oncologist via patient portal to try for a solution. It's a dilemma not anticipated, and met with frustration.
Ginger

REPLY
5 replies
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 7, 2021
In reply to @gingerw "I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems..." + (show)
@gingerw

I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems to be a hurdle to cross in getting even the first dose. Having contacted our county's public health director, I will be sending a message to my oncologist via patient portal to try for a solution. It's a dilemma not anticipated, and met with frustration.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw, I am thinking positive thoughts for a solution. I wonder if you can get it somehow thru the oncology center. I hope that you hear something soon.

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 7, 2021
In reply to @gingerw "I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems..." + (show)
@gingerw

I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems to be a hurdle to cross in getting even the first dose. Having contacted our county's public health director, I will be sending a message to my oncologist via patient portal to try for a solution. It's a dilemma not anticipated, and met with frustration.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw I hope you get the necessary documentation to get the vaccine very soon. I’m sure if your oncologist provides you even with some type of note it will be honored.

I was thinking if I’m able to get the vaccine here due to being a post-transplant patient on immunosuppressants, how do I prove that? Show them my huge scar? 😉🥴
JK

REPLY
ladydidehart | @ladydidehart | Jan 8, 2021
In reply to @jerrynord "I am as also a liver transplant patient who was tested positive on Dec 29th with..." + (show)
@jerrynord

I am as also a liver transplant patient who was tested positive on Dec 29th with mild symptoms such as mild chest cough and hard to get an entire breath. My local doctor immediately got me an appointment the next day for an an intravenous of an anti-viral experimental drug similar to what President Trump had. I went home after 4 hours and am finishing up my 14 day quarantine with all symptoms gone.

Jump to this post

That is great to hear. Thank you for sharing this with us. It’s encouraging to hear about other transplant recipients who have recovered from COVID.

REPLY
silverwoman | @silverwoman | Jan 8, 2021
In reply to @jolinda "@ess77 How did you get the vaccine? Did you sign up for it? How did you..." + (show)
@jolinda

@ess77 How did you get the vaccine? Did you sign up for it? How did you find out you could get the vaccine?

Jump to this post

I had my first dose yesterday and so far so good, just a sore arm at injection site. I found out about the availability on the local news; they had put up a link on their website which led to an on-line appointment scheduler. I was able to make the appointment, get a confirmation and get vaccinated with relative ease. I was told back in December when I first asked my coordinator about getting vaccinated that I would need to do weekly labs for two months to monitor immune response and I'm guessing that at some point in a few month an antibody titer will be a good idea to guage the quantity of immunity I've produced. Hope that helps.

REPLY
silverwoman | @silverwoman | Jan 8, 2021
In reply to @gingerw "I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems..." + (show)
@gingerw

I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems to be a hurdle to cross in getting even the first dose. Having contacted our county's public health director, I will be sending a message to my oncologist via patient portal to try for a solution. It's a dilemma not anticipated, and met with frustration.
Ginger

Jump to this post

Ginger, our public health department is giving vaccinations and many are signing up for appointments on line. I got mine through a local hospital who had partnered with a city government and scheduled it on line; they did the vaccinations at their community center. I found out about that program through my local news station and followed links on the tv station's web site to make my appointment. Worked like a charm.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 8, 2021
In reply to @silverwoman "Ginger, our public health department is giving vaccinations and many are signing up for appointments on..." + (show)
@silverwoman

Ginger, our public health department is giving vaccinations and many are signing up for appointments on line. I got mine through a local hospital who had partnered with a city government and scheduled it on line; they did the vaccinations at their community center. I found out about that program through my local news station and followed links on the tv station's web site to make my appointment. Worked like a charm.

Jump to this post

@silverwoman, Your public health dept is really on top of this!
Did you qualify as a High Risk or was it (forgive me) age? Did you have to give any proof of your high risk transplant qualification?

REPLY
silverwoman | @silverwoman | Jan 8, 2021

I qualify by age - no forgiveness needed; I'm proud to have survived 76 years. The questionnaire I filled out before vaccination did have a question about immune suppressed status.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 8, 2021
In reply to @gingerw "I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems..." + (show)
@gingerw

I need to get the vaccine [both doses] before starting chemo in March. However, there seems to be a hurdle to cross in getting even the first dose. Having contacted our county's public health director, I will be sending a message to my oncologist via patient portal to try for a solution. It's a dilemma not anticipated, and met with frustration.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw- Why can't things, for once, run smoothly? Good luck!

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 8, 2021
In reply to @silverwoman "I qualify by age - no forgiveness needed; I'm proud to have survived 76 years. The..." + (show)
@silverwoman

I qualify by age - no forgiveness needed; I'm proud to have survived 76 years. The questionnaire I filled out before vaccination did have a question about immune suppressed status.

Jump to this post

@silverwoman- Good morning. Do you remember what the question was?

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.