Continue to practice safety recommendations, including mask usage and physical distancing.
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This week’s “Ask Dr. Durie” comes from a patient who is naturally concerned about the more aggressive Delta variant of the COVID-19 infection, which has been increasing frequency at an alarming rate in-state across America. And so, the question, naturally enough is: How can a patient stay safe in the setting of this being an infection in the community?
And so, the first thing is to stay alert to the level of the delta-variant infection in your community, and if there is an increasing level, certainly above a few percentage points, this is a red flag to be especially cautious.
But the most important thing for a myeloma patient who has been on active treatment is to be aware that even if fully vaccinated – so, I have certainly encouraged all myeloma patients to be fully vaccinated either with the Pfizer vaccine or the Moderna vaccine, if possible. If not, then obviously with the AstraZeneca vaccine, if that’s the one that has been accessible. But what we have learned is that myeloma patients will probably not have a full antibody response, even when fully vaccinated.
And this is a concern with the more infectious Delta variant. And so, for now, the most important thing is for myeloma patients to continue to take the precautions that we’ve talked about for so many months.
First, continue to wear a mask in all situations of concern, particularly in indoor settings where you might be coming in contact perhaps with younger people or people who have not been vaccinated.
Also, continue to be cautious is you’re traveling, particularly in communal travel, taking a flight, or a bus, or a train, be very cautious about that and just be alert in any situation where there are larger gatherings, particularly where there are individuals of unknown vaccination status.
And so, the best way to stay safe is the be cautious and take the steps with the masking, and separation, and precautions that we’ve talked about for many months.
Dr. Brian G.M. Durie (1942-2025) was the co-founder of the IMF. He was a Professor of Medicine, Hematologist/Oncologist, and Honoree MD at the University of Brussels.
