Christmas, COVID, Lockdowns, and Kidney Transplantation plus Vaccines and Personal Responsibility

Not surprisingly today’s blog is a continuation of my last. We are quickly approaching Christmas with decisions to be made on how to spend time with family. And COVID vaccines are on the near horizon.

Interestingly, as spread of the virus is much discussed and washing hands, wearing masks, and social distancing are now common terminology, it reminds me of my past observations and experience as a kidney transplant recipient. Those of you who have also gone through transplant can relate, I’m sure. We are immunosuppressed from day one going forward to prevent organ rejection. This means we are at higher risk for infections than most people.

Kidney transplant recipients are all told in the beginning to avoid large crowds, and later to use good judgment if going to large audience events. We washed our hands frequently, because it is the first, easiest line of defense. We did not wear masks (lung transplant recipients can tell me more about their experience here) and most of us did not stay at home because of fears of catching something (today’s Lockdowns come to mind).

So this is what I was more acutely aware of post-transplant, so applicable to what is happening today, and an area of constant concern. It involves personal responsibility. I never want to get sick, so I couldn’t understand the people who would cough or sneeze in your face as you walked by them in a shopping center – simply because they did not have the courtesy to cover their mouths. Or the people you’d see in restrooms clearly skipping washing their hands on the way out after finishing their business. Or people tasked with cleaning tables, or counters, or other surfaces as part of their jobs and clearly putting in a casual effort - that would have little or no benefit.

I always saw these situations as a quick path to me getting sick, with heightened awareness of the trouble I would be in, being immunosuppressed, if it got bad.

With the pandemic, besides the additional (sometimes mandated) precautions discussed above, how much more important is it that people stop behaviors that could lead to other people getting sick? I believe it’s very important. But will it happen? I don’t know. Frankly, I believe this is as critical as the vaccine push if we are going to beat this virus. I think my transplant peers are with me on this.

So we are close to getting the vaccine. In my state I believe I will be in a third wave of vaccinations as part of a group with higher medical risk, although I have yet to hear anything from my Transplant Office / Coordinator. Will I personally get the vaccine when it becomes available (as opposed to people that say they won’t)? I believe it absolutely necessary I do, although I am concerned about any potential negative side effects. We all know there is a lot of debate about the validity of reported COVID numbers, how sick a person might get from the virus (sadly it’s fatal for many people), and the overall mortality rate. I feel, unless you are young, you really don’t want to get COVID. I know I don’t. My hope is anyone reading this does not contract the virus and certainly not my transplant friends.

So Christmas is just days away, and while my state has relaxed lockdown restrictions somewhat, my family has decided to only celebrate as the three of us in your immediate household, as we did at Thanksgiving. This was again a painful decision as the holidays are designed for getting together to celebrate with friends and family, and my favorite time of the year. But as the number of people in attendance at any event grows, especially those outside your household and with the contacts they’ve had, the risk is simply too great.

So including New Year’s, which won’t be celebrated any differently, this is how we will end this very challenging year.

Not knowing what is going on with each of you, and hoping you are all safe and healthy, I want to take this moment to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hopefully a much brighter year than the one we just experienced.

Take care.