Ask the Doctor Question:
My CLL expert told my wife and I that asymptomatic vaccinated people cannot spread the Delta variant, and, that we should be comfortable indoors with friends and family we know to be vaccinated and are not showing symptoms. But I am reading hints from the CDC that we do not know much for sure, and they don’t differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic. Also, how can we know that someone who is asymptomatic isn’t on the cusp of symptoms. The whole thing concerns me because of lack of data, but my wife took my doctor’s opinion to heart and wants to get back to ‘normal’ living.
Answer: Unfortunately, this information is completely inaccurate. Asymptomatic people absolutely can spread COVID and there are studies now that unfortunately prove that. You and your wife should be wearing a tightly fitted mask (preferably an N-95) everywhere you go. You absolutely should not let your guard down, especially indoors. There is no longer a lack of data on this. We are recommending that all CLL patients be even more cautious right now, especially now that we know that the vaccine has not worked in a large portion of CLL patients.
Here are some links that we think you might find helpful to share with your wife:
- https://cllsociety.org/2021/07/cll-societys-recommendations-for-covid-19-vaccinated-chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-cll-patients-based-on-the-cdc-updated-considerations-for-people-who-are-immunocompromised-and-on-the-underl/
- https://cllsociety.org/2021/07/covid-19-plan-checklists-for-chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-cll-preparing-for-pre-and-post-covid-19-exposure/
- https://cllsociety.org/2021/06/how-do-covid-19-vaccines-affect-people-who-are-immunocompromised/
