A few weeks ago, we had CLOSE contact with a breakthrough case. It was the night before they tested positive. We got a call the next day that we were exposed ☹.
Oh boy!
We are fully vaccinated + a booster. But still, we had close contact and we were worried.
Enter the mRNA vaccine miracle!
The case was fully vaccinated with Pfizer, but there is a high level of ongoing transmission in that community. So, we were pretty nervous. We did two antigen tests post exposure and both came back negative 😊.
Talk about a relief!
I did come across a news clip reporting on a study that fully vaccinated people are far less likely to spread COVID. A contact was 65% less likely to test positive if the case was fully vaccinated with 2 doses of Pfizer. The study hasn’t been peer reviewed yet, so caution is in order. But that was a reassuring finding.
While so many people see NOT being vaccinated a badge of honor, I think we all are coming to grips with the fact that COVID is here to stay (for the foreseeable future). I imagine there will be waves of disease, like the flu. And the vaccine may change accordingly.
Being older with a questionable immune system, I am figuring out how to live in a COVID world. In addition to being vaccinated, I will:
- Wear masks indoors in most situations – indoor masking is required in Washington State at this point
- Keep the handwashing going
- Hang out with vaccinated people whenever possible
- Think twice about traveling to ‘hot spots’ – we may still go, but will want to focus on staying outdoors
- Have antigen tests on hand and use them for overnight guests – antigen tests are tough to find!
I have no desire to hole up at home – there just aren’t that many more shopping days until Christmas!
“The dangers of life are infinite, and among them is safety.”
Goethe
Allene