Injections in the Time of COVID-19

This afternoon I received the automated phone call reminder for my upcoming injection from my retinal specialist’s office. The only difference now with COVID-19 on everyone’s mind is they added a few sentences at the end. A request for people to stay away and phone to discuss with them if they have any symptoms or if they have been in contact with someone with symptoms. It’s been ten weeks since my last injection. I’m hoping it will be stable and we can extend by another week before the next one. Then on to a twelve-week schedule.

Being cautious with COVID-19

This injection has been on my mind for quite a while, wondering whether the chance of losing my sight is greater than the chance of coming down with COVID-19. As I’m quite healthy I would likely survive, but would I introduce it into my condo building where a number of our owners are in their eighties and nineties? And frail? I knew in my heart that no matter how much I worried, I would still go for the injection if it was at all possible. But the office is always full on injection days. With mostly very elderly people. Isn’t that the at-risk demographic?

My concerns

Both eyes will be dilated, but only one will have the shot. Another question, perhaps a silly one, but still worrisome. Will the fact I’ve had an injection in my eye make it more susceptible to the virus? How fast does that minuscule hole caused by the needle close? A mask I could handle, a full face shield? Not so much. In fact, I’ve just made face masks for some of my less than healthy neighbours. It says on the news programs that masks won’t help much, but I do think they give our elderly a feeling of doing something to try and protect themselves.

Note: This article was written on March 28th, 2020. The CDC now recommends that masks are worn in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Transportation is questionable

Now the real question: How to get there? As usual, the message said not to drive. I normally take the bus, but there’s no way social distancing will be possible on a city bus. My daughter is working from home, but her husband still has to go to work, so that’s out. Friends have offered to drive me, but even sitting in the back seat is not far enough away. I wouldn’t want to take a chance on one of them becoming infected.

Walking or waiting?

Google Maps tells me it’s only an hour and fifty minutes to walk, which I could easily do. But another two hours coming home would be the killer. They’d find me passed out on the side of the road! If I drive myself, could I walk around downtown until my eyes were back to normal? There’s a grocery store nearby, perhaps I could get a coffee and find a park bench not too far away without too many people around. The doctor’s office is adamant about not driving for four hours afterward. As it’s a morning appointment, that’s probably the best solution.

I’ll keep you informed on how it goes after my shot.  In the meantime, have any of you had an injection since this virus arrived? If so, what precautions did you take?