Vaccination or not, don’t do this. Sanibel Island Farmers Market before COVID. Paul Goldfinger MD photo. Goldfinger

By Paul Goldfinger, MD

So many of us got vaccinated and  thought our risk of acquiring COVID was over.  We started going out again and we thought we were safe by hanging out with others who were vaccinated.  We went to family gatherings, and  many of of us stopped wearing masks.

But it is now painfully apparent that “breakthrough” infections, ie infections despite full vaccination, are occurring in increasing numbers across America.  Even some who had received boosters are getting infected.

The vaccines do reduce your chances of being infected,  but the “experts” have now changed their tune by saying that you can still be infected despite the vaccines,  however  if  you get sick, you will have a significantly lower risk of dying or getting hospitalized or becoming very ill.

We also are learning that COVID could produce symptoms for longer than the standard 10 day isolation period.  Some will have lingering problems, such as respiratory  issues, for months or even permanently, and major centers such as the Mayo Clinic have created specialized “long haul” departments for dealing with protracted problems including mental issues, fatigue, loss of smell, breathing difficulties, and other complications.

Talk about aggravation— Eileen and I flew to Florida for a 6 day stay on September 9.  Florida was in the midst of a rise in COVID cases, and many people were getting the Delta variant.  It was a business trip where the lawyers wouldn’t let us sign documents on line.

We already had a two shot vaccination with Moderna 6 months ago.  We went to a meeting where everyone wore masks and we came home on Sept. 15.

The next day Eileen began to have symptoms.  Her doctor ordered a booster shot for both of us.  The situation became complicated and we learned that she was positive. They tested me, and I am positive. This is crazy!

She was hospitalized for two days, but not because of the COVID.  It would turn out to be a relatively mild case, but all these cases are potentially dangerous., especially for those over age 65.   And don’t forget that booster shots take a few weeks to result in antibodies, so it is not a treatment method.

We both were given Regeneron antibody infusions* at Jersey Shore  (She in the hospital and me in the clinic.)    Now we are isolated for 10 days and should be good to go soon.

But you can see that this whole pandemic subject is still evolving and still filled with uncertainty and ups and downs.  Medical people have to function in the face of those uncertainties.  I saw this play out while Eileen was at Jersey Shore.

And don’t forget that your immunity from vaccines begins to fall off as time goes by.  As a result, booster shots will be widely introduced now.

Also pay attention to the wide array of new early treatments*  for COVID, to be distinguished from preventive measures, ie vaccinations which are appropriately still being stressed.

The Regeneron antibody infusion is the only one approved as an emergency use by the FDA . Other proposed treatments, such as steroids,  are being given elsewhere without approval, but not at Jersey Shore.  I hear that the Urgicare across from the hospital is giving the infusions.

So, even if you are vaccinated and even if you  have received a booster, continue all precautions as before including masks indoors or in crowds.  Or, better yet stay away from crowds, indoor restaurants, etc.  And don’t be shocked if you still get the virus.

Below is from a Harvard post:

“It’s hard to disentangle what’s most responsible for the rise in breakthrough infections this summer — whether it’s the delta variant itself, waning immunity in some people or that much of the U.S. dropped public health precautions such as masking.

“We don’t have good evidence of what’s the cause, but we do know all of these things coming together are associated with more breakthroughs,” says  a public health researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.”

And below is an excellent NPR piece on this subject.  Be sure to read it:

www.kqed.org/science/1976780/what-i-learned-from-my-mild-breakthrough-case-of-covid

RICHIE HAVENS :