At risk Canadians concerned over restrictions being lifted

CALGARY (CityNews) – Some immunocompromised Canadians are worried as they watch COVID restrictions lift and people take off their masks.

Nina Busuego from Calgary was born with a heart defect. She underwent a double lung and heart transplant in 2019.

For her, the vaccine is much less effective. And she’s not alone. A study out of John Hopkins found almost half of transplant recipients didn’t have any antibody response.

“I feel like people are not scared anymore of the virus and I get that maybe they can handle it if ever they get it. But for me, it’s scary because that would automatically be a hospitalization for me,” explained Busuego.

“I understand the want of the people to go back to normal, but I would like some more sensitivity from them because… it could be a death sentence for us.”

Suzanna D’Aprile from Saskatoon got her kidney 12 years ago. She says her heart breaks for those with new transplants.

“They get the gift of life and they’re feeling still trapped because they have to stay home. They have to protect their new organ,” she explained.

“Just think of others. Just looking at a person, you can’t tell if someone is sick or what they’re going through. And I just ask people to just wear a mask indoors, if it’s possible.”

The Kidney Foundation of Canada is advising vulnerable people to keep up physical distancing measures and is hoping others consider it as well.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask to wear masks, continue to wear masks, especially in indoor settings, when you’re around other people that you may not know, in any crowds, any of those sorts of things. I think it’s best to err on the side of caution because lives really are at stake,” explained Joyce Van Deurzen, executive director of the Southern Alberta & Saskatchewan branch.

Doctors say achieving herd immunity would protect these vulnerable populations.