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Life after Booster Shots

Lana

(website)

Veteran

I’m curious what your stance is on masking, indoor vs outdoor events etc after having been vaccinated and double boosted? I’ve been religiously masking for 2 years and so far neither I nor my husband have gotten it. However before it was officially recognized here in the USA I was very sick for two weeks with flu like symptoms but not lower respiratory — this was before we could test for the virus or for antigens. So it’s possible I did have it, who knows.

A good friend of mine and her husband flew to vacation in Alaska. They now have Covid and are quarantined in a cabin there. They had cold symptoms, aches and fever but she said she’d had worse colds before. She had been very careful to mask but had loosened up some after being boosted. I asked her if getting Covid had changed her attitude about masking and she said yes she was going back to her masked ways and outdoor socializing only which surprised me.

DH works with one or two people unmasked daily, and doesn’t want to mask anymore. He recently got back from a conference where 2% of people were masking and he was not one of them. I promptly went camping when he got back, and we are isolating from each other in separate ends of the house (at my request) until he can test 5 days after his last flight. Each side has a separate HVAC unit so no air flowing from one side to the other. For me this is an odds thing, because he is more likely to get it from hundreds of people than the two people he works with.

Our area is highly vaccinated and 2/3 people still mask here. I go back and forth on whether to continue to mask or not mask, because I really don’t want to get it, but it looks like we are going to be living with this virus indefinitely like the common cold. And because of the fact that my husband will not mask anymore, my efforts are kind of futile.

What are you doing after boosters?

Off Topic

38 replies

Latest reply was from Lana

kkards

Veteran

I’ve been back at the office 3 days a week since Oct 2021. The office is 90% vaccinated, and we had on on site booster clinic back in Nov of 2021. When we 1st went back masks were required for all non vaxed people, but as the county and state let mask requirement phase out, so did our office. That being said, i generally have not masked at work, the exceptions are for the week before i plan to travel to see my mother (85YO living in a senior community) and after NYE when my county’s rate were climbing and 1/2 the people I worked with seemed to test positive….rates are climbing here again, but so far the hospitalizations are fairly low. I continue to be cautious about being indoors with strangers, ie skipping indoor dining, movies, gyms etc, and i find myself in one of these situations then yes to mask.

i will also add that i test anytime i feel “off” and 5-6 days after big office meeting, or before I’m traveling or seeing anyone i know if more vulnerable or has someone in their household who is high risk

We all must make our own decisions, and I’ve reached the proceed with caution, and test test test phase of the pandemic

JAileen

Veteran

I visited my mother in California a week ago, and on the way home heard Dr Robert Wachter on the radio. He is Chair of the Dept of Medicine at Univ of California, San Francisco. The link is for the show I listened to. He and his wife were in Southern California, and his wife got Covid. They drove nine hours in a car with the windows down, and both wearing N95s, and he didn’t get it! He said he would not eat in a restaurant indoors at this time. Outdoors is fine. He said his fear is not dying, but long Covid. He said it appears that if you develop long Covid, your chances of developing diabetes or heart disease, including stroke, is increased.

My takeaways: 1. Always wear a quality mask indoors (N95 or KN95). 2. No need to wear a mask outdoors, unless it’s calm.

https://www.kqed.org/forum/201.....-questions

Kathie

Veteran

I have kids as well as responsibilities for checking on and spending time with an elderly family member in a care facility on a daily or every other day basis. It's definitely a balance, and I wear an N95 anytime I'm in indoors in public, and follow the guidelines for the care facility scrupulously, since testing 4-6x/week isn't a feasible strategy for me. (If I were visiting on a more periodic/episodic basis, then I would do exactly what kkards is doing.) Everyone in our family is vaccinated and boosted to the extent possible, so I'm not worried about the younger, healthier ones, especially given the recent study suggesting that 75% of kids in the United States had COVID by the end of the first omicron wave, and it's likely higher than that now. We encourage the kids to wear masks at times of high transmission, but our general goals are more around safety for the elderly family member and his caregivers. (So, for example, the kids are not visiting the care facility at the moment, since I'm generally assuming that even with masks, they're being exposed at school on a daily basis.)

Lana

(website)

Veteran

My fear is long Covid as well, not dying, because we just don’t have enough data yet for Omicron. I do want to protect my 86 year old mother who is moving close to us in June.

Peri

Veteran

I've had my second booster and I continue to mask in all situations where I'm with people, including friends, but definitely out in public places like my very rare grocery trips. My issues may just be personal...my DH was immune compromised for the past two years and has only recently been proven to show a successful response to the vaccine. I think it will be a good long time before I can be in a mindspace to be casual about it.

One thing is that it seems more prevalent than ever and yet is being treated so casually. I hear people saying they barely felt sick and it was no big deal. I also hear of people more genuinely not knowing they were sick because of the more mild symptoms and therefore being out exposing everyone without knowing it. So I mistrust public spaces almost more than ever.

The times I've been out I notice the opposite of you...maybe 2/10 people wearing masks. It makes me irritated and mistrustful, but especially when someone not masked sees me masked and comes up close to me anyway. They may not care about it for themselves but they have no right to make that choice for me. Here's what I want to say to the world: If you see someone in a mask, assume they have a reason to be. You don't have to know that reason to be respectful. Keep your distance.

And I'm preaching to choir because the people who need to be told that aren't reading this!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Here in the uk it’s no longer mandatory to wear a mask anywhere but l still do in doors with strangers,l quite often am the only one though!My husband is volunteering in a public facing role and says that only he ,a doctor ,and another volunteer who is an immunologist wear masks.l ask myself who would know best,and continue to wear mine!Its not easy when you are the only one,peer pressure is real but so far no one’s been unpleasant about it.

JAileen

Veteran

I want to add: I’m often the only one wearing a mask. No one has said anything to me (other than a slightly demented elderly woman from church). I attribute my not being bothered due to my nearly white hair. Wearing a good mask protects you. If others don’t care about their health, why should you?

Lana

(website)

Veteran

I do wear a mask but I wonder how effective it is if my husband will not wear one. I’m constantly being exposed to him at home.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m double vaxed and boosted once, and will get my 4th shot when I’m eligible in early June. I wear a mask (home made triple layer with polypropylene) and sometimes double mask with a ‘paper’ medical type mask when entering any establishment, and keep it on with the one exception of working out at the gym. I wear a mask for myself, but also for others, since I recognize that the gym could be a source of exposure - though up until April, a person had to be vaccinated in order to enter the premises - so I’m assuming a lot of members are vaccinated.

I’ve been tested twice - both times when visiting my mother’s husband in a care home. At 96 yo, he just caught Covid last month. His symptoms were slight, but at his age and fragility of health, he ended up in hospital due to dehydration, weight loss, and extremely low iron. His recovery to pre-Covid health has been slow.

I see way more people wearing masks in indoor environments - but not so much out of doors and on the streets. DH and I play Bridge at the community centre once a week. There are usually 32-40 seniors and about half wear masks for the 3 1/2 to 4 hours of play. Mask wearing is completely acceptable where I live (small town, Ontario, Canada.)

DH is on the same page, so no difficulties there. He is currently on a week long golf trip to the US with his buddies - all seniors and vaccinated (and scientists by profession - who believe in the science!) so I’m trusting he will keep himself safe. I am interested in his report on how different (or the same) he finds his experience stateside.

I’m still doing a lot of hand washing as well.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Still masking with an N95/kn95. Just got my second booster last week, as did my husband. My young adult children are still here with us, and are cautious too…masking indoors but mostly socializing outdoors. They seem OK with the precautions, so far. Daughter is a cancer survivor and now a grad student in public health and epidemiology. Sons’ offices are still remote, as is husband’s. I work from home, too,

I follow a LOT of epidemiologists/experts on Twitter (including Dr. Wachter) and the consensus is that the varients are coming fast and furiously and while the vaccines will keep us from dying, we will likely get sick anyway. Long COVID worries me and I now know several vaxxed people who have been infected twice, including an 8-year-old relative (twice in 2 months!), right after mask mandates were dropped in our state’s schools. So something is going on and it’s clear a good mask seems to be working even if the vaccines are not.

Kate

Veteran

Twice boosted and scared of long Covid. We live in a very mask-friendly, pro-science area (DC), but I still mask indoors and on public transportation, even though masking is now optional in those places.

Sal

Veteran

It is an interesting one..

I am triple vaccinated and wear masks in supermarkets, retail outlets, flying etc..

We no longer wear them at work unless meeting with people outside the workplace.

I have attended functions inside, and also dined inside. I have tested so many times when I have had symptoms, always negative. I am not convinced that RAT are that accurate - so may people I know tested negative four to five times before testing positive at the end.

I honestly don't know I haven't caught COVID with a son at a large high school who socialises and plays sport. All his friends have had it. He has been tested a number of times but has hayfever so often has a slight cough and sniffle.

I don't have an answer - I know people who take many more risks than I do but I also know people that take many less. I too mostly worry about long Covid.

I can't see how we will get rid of this awful crazy virus unless there are sterilising vaccines.

LJP

Veteran

I’m eligible for my 2nd booster / 4th shot in early July and will be getting that . The org I work for requires all employees be vaccinated and we must wear masks at all times . Yes , the mask wearing is tiresome ( literally too because of all the talking I do during a typical workday and I don’t have a very loud voice to begin with ) but I don’t expect any changes to the mandate any time soon . Most other businesses have dropped masking , but I’m still very uncomfortable with even the idea of not wearing one out in public . I had my first unmasked experience in a Starbucks the other day ( figured I’d test my bare face out ) and was super self conscious the entire time ….even though no one else was masked either . I still consider masking up a courtesy toward others and admit I’m not thrilled with those who no longer care . Maybe it’s become a bit of a security blanket ? I’ve had Covid once ( recently ) and it was a non-event - but I’m very aware of the long term effects . It’s all very confusing to me . You couldn’t pay me to get on an airplane right now , or anytime soon .

Bijou

Veteran

My family is fully vaccinated and when I am eligible for another booster shot I will get it. I work from home, my main places of catching covid are at my very quiet gym (I go during non-peak times) and my karate school. I have a 13 year old son who is at school without masks and covid is running freely through the school. DS has not caught it, but 600 of the 1,600 students at his school have caught it. I accept that if I am to catch it, I am likely to catch it from him. I am not masking unless going into a busy or confined space. I have a mask with me at all times and pop it on when I feel that social distancing is not possible.

Given DS's situation, I am limiting my catch ups with vulnerable and high risk people as I have a number of friends and family in their 80's and a friend with cancer and am very concerned about their welfare. Before catching up with them, we do RAT tests and wear masks. I think this is the 'new normal' unfortunately.

rachylou

Veteran

I’m going the same route as JAileen. Am avoiding big crowds… like I got invited to the SF Carnaval parade, but even tho it was outdoors, still a crush. We mask at work still; same people all the time and not necessarily that close together, but work is cautious. I don’t have much confidence in the boosters because they’re outdated and don’t seem to last that long.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

So, yeah, I’m heading for a massive outdoor public event this week, not for the first time either. What can I say? It’s a calculated risk. We have to start somewhere. I might feel differently if we didn’t have the VIP tickets, which makes it easier for us old people to avoid the scrum.

I tend not to worry too much out of doors, and am only masking on public transport. I will probably continue to do this even when restrictions are lifted, as is gradually happening.

We had a massive spike in cases earlier in the year, which has since tailed off, even though the tourists are returning in their droves. Nobody I know got seriously ill during the last wave, which was absolutely not the case earlier in the epidemic. Things really are easing off. I suspect we’ll see a seasonal pattern from now on.

Helena

Veteran

Like others, I'm doing a bit of a hybrid approach ... Usually masking indoors, e.g. at the grocery store, etc., But not at restaurants where I will obviously have to unmask to eat. Also not masking out of doors. Around here I'd say it's about 50/50 masked to unmasked these days, and it doesn't seem to be based on any easily discernable demographics (e.g. I see many older adults masked and unmasked). Also thank goodness I have not personally experienced or witnessed any unkindness or aggression based on what decision folks have made. May that continue! All that to say, I think most of us are making the best decision we can based on the facts and our circumstances!

RobinF

Veteran

I live in an area where there are a lot of anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers, including where I work. It is frustrating but somehow I have avoided getting Covid myself. Long Covid is a very real thing to worry about though. My BIL, a doctor, got Covid in the early days and a year later had a stroke. His doctor thinks Covid damaged his heart and this caused the stroke. He is doing well but can no longer work which he is finding very depressing and difficult. I also have another BIL who is immunocompromised due to a liver transplant so we are all very careful especially around him. So crazy to think about how things have changed in the last few years!

catherine

Veteran

I’ve been looking for data on long COVID vs. long influenza. I am kind of wondering if some of the people who get the flu in a normal season might also have some chronic sequelae. The only data I have found is that influenza may increase one’s risk of a future cardiac event.
Obviously, I know that COVID is not the flu and that many, many more people might be affected by chronicity, but it’s possible that COVID is not unique in this aspect.
We were in Amsterdam for a couple of weeks recently. There were no restrictions or mask mandates at all. The city was packed. We did mask up on the train and metro, and of course on the plane. Tested negative multiple times.
We still know little about this novel virus. I suggest Michael Osterholm of Minnesota as a resource. He has been pessimistic but correct.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/abo.....lm-phd-mph

Aquamarine

Veteran

Catherine, I agree about Michael Osterholm as a good resource…or AKA Dr. Doom

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks to everyone who answered, and I know there is no right answer at the moment. It’s all too new. Husband tested negative today, and I think he is very very lucky given how cavalier he is about it. We sat down and had a long talk and he agreed to mask in crowded situations because otherwise it’s futile for me to mask when he doesn’t. I’m sure we will revisit this discussion many times as time goes on but for now we have an agreement we are both relatively happy with.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I just got my second booster today. We've been pretty careful about being around people in enclosed spaces, but otherwise have definitely relaxed our practices. Both of my stepsons have now had Covid (plus one's wife), and one of my BFFs had it a couple of weeks ago too -- he works for Pfizer, so you know he takes this stuff seriously! I have other friends who have gotten it recently, but all were vaccinated and didn't need hospitalization. Still, I'm more worried about long covid than anything else. Fortunately, my husband and I are very much on the same page, and if one of us feels the need to take more caution, the other would definitely go along.

Sal

Veteran

I have found the judgement side of Covid challenging - and it is so disappointing that health decisions have been made into political ones.

Some people judge those who are cautious, some people judge those who take more risks, mask wearing or not, even down to people downplaying the disease itself. That's not even getting on to the vaccine judgement decisions and deliberate disinformation. As the playing field has changed, the decisions have had to change too. Governments are criticised for locking down, for not locking down, for supporting businesses, for not supporting businesses - it has been awful.

Echo

Veteran

My mum is 83, and recently had surgery for breast cancer. I take her to all of her appointments and spend a lot of time with her, so I mask up anywhere in public. I teach, so September - May, I have very high risk and exposure. I wear an N-95 mask all day, every day, indoors or out, when I am at school. Kids just aren't great about being sanitary - they cough or sneeze in your face, pick their noses, pick scabs and bleed, etc. So it's no wonder that pre-covid, I usually caught the flu at least once a year, despite being vaccinated.

As far as we know, neither I nor my mum have been infected (nor has anyone else from my nuclear family). My Dh generally works from home, and when he doesn't, he wears a mask while traveling on mass transit/planes/etc. My sons don't wear masks at their places of work, but neither is exposed to very many people. My daughter just graduated high school and she, too, wore a mask everyday at school.

Because I live in a disturbingly conservative area, I've had people shout at me (from pickup trucks) that I don't need a mask, masks aren't required, etc. I just keep walking.

I'm really glad you were able to come to a compromise with your Dh. That was initially a sticking block for me with Dh's travel, too. But we're on the same page now, which makes things easier. Unfortunately, Dh's family are science deniers, so I have drawn a hard line there. I won't go to see them, nor will I have them in our home.

DeAnna

We have been vaccinated and boosted. We are very careful, no movies only outdoor eating, etc.We are around and care for our granddaughter who has Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheelchair. A month ago Hubby and I got exposed at each work place, and a family member, we both got Covid. We did not realize at first it was Covid as this is prime allergy season. We both recovered, but in the process I found that there is a recovery protocol,

https://covid19criticalcare.co.....-protocol/ We started the protocol, and recovery was fast. Our granddaughter was the one who exposed us, she did the protocol and is in good health now. I really do not understand why its so hard to get solid information on this, especially alter all this time.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I am not eligible for a second booster yet, but have had three shots, as has the rest of my immediate family. My husband is in active cancer treatment, so we always mask indoors and in crowds, and do not eat at indoor restaurants. We also test weekly before chemo because neither of us wants to unwittingly expose other chemo patients, some of whom may be even more medically fragile than my husband.

We recently had some family members who chose not to cancel a scheduled trip to our area after they tested positive for Covid. As of this morning they’re still testing positive on rapid tests, while visiting restaurants and theme parks and pressuring us to join them (we are not). Knowing people we love and have trusted in the past would make that choice has made me even more cautious, especially during surges like we’re in right now.

At the same time, we need to live our lives, so we’re not completely isolating, just being careful and picking and choosing how we spend our limited risk budget.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

We are over 50, and had our second booster six weeks ago - so jab #4 - just before our trip to South Africa. Masking up for a 40 hr commute is no joke. I see us masking up at airports and on flights forever.

Have managed to avoid COVID so far. (Lots of testing because of two trips abroad for the memorial services of both our Dads. Grateful to be all good). We were more careful than most, and are still careful. We mask up indoors and in crowds. Like Jenn, we’re not completely isolating, but picky about how we allocate our limited risk budget. We are concerned for long COVID and infecting high risk close friends. Know plenty of breakthrough infections unfortunately. No one seriously ill, thankfully.

Sloper

Veteran

A very heartfelt thanks to all who mask, vax, and boost from chez Sloper.

We still keep a very low (virtually no) public profile. DH is vaxed and boosted, as is MIL in a nursing home. Vaxes don't work for me due to several immunity-suppressant meds I must take, but fortunately, I've had access to Evusheld, antibody injections for people like me.https://den8dhaj6zs0e.cloudfro.....e9-a1d4-15

Sal

Veteran

I spoke too soon. My son tested positive for COVID yesterday. So we are at home for one week - unless Jon and I test positive too- we have to test tomorrow and day 7.

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