As more people around the U.S. begin to drop their masks and try to return to 'normal,' more than 7 million immunocompromised people and organizations that support them ask for understanding.
Sometimes, an immunocompromised person isn't even able to get vaccinated, says Karen E. Knudsen, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society.
The Arthritis Foundation continues to push for more access to telehealth services, especially for people who are immunocompromised, says Anna Hyde, a foundation spokesperson. The foundation has also monitored shortages of COVID medications, she said, contacting drugmakers and the FDA, and keeping patients updated about shortages.
Even then, she finds that some people get too close, especially at checkouts. She's polite but firm. Saying,"Excuse me, if you could step back" usually works, maybe also because of her appearance, she says."They can look at me and tell I'm a cancer patient" due toAfter Genoves, who has rheumatoid arthritis, got the recommended fourth shot, someone questioned her decision. She's learned to reply simply and move on.
Sometimes, that thinking resurfaces. When Brigham Young University dropped its mask mandate, Melissa Alcaraz, PhD, an assistant sociology professor there, emailed her class, asking them to keep masking up to help her protect immunocompromised loved ones. She was pleasantly surprised when she got to class. All the students did.
You are simply asking for help. Even so, the conversation may have to be ongoing, and the approach won't work with the insensitive, he says.