All those with CLL / SLL, regardless of their treatment status, are to some greater or lesser extent, immunocompromised and therefore more vulnerable to serious infections. The one place our immunocompromised community needs to feel safe is when they are seeking healthcare. But most mask mandates have disappeared.
Hospitals and clinics, by their very nature, can be a place where COVID-19 and other respiratory infections spread. Therefore, CLL Society has created our Official Statement on Mask Wearing and Other Protective Measures for Those Living with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia / Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL / SLL) in Healthcare Settings to help. We encourage all those with CLL / SLL to print and politely share CLL Society’s Official Statement with your healthcare team in the hope they will accommodate our extra need for protection. Please understand that there are strong feelings about masking and the science is nuanced, so you might not get the desired response, but you can always protect yourself by wearing a well-fitting N-95 or equivalent mask.
