Dear Debra,

Some doctors tend to minimise risks and use absolute terms. In absolute terms, someone with ET only and without treatment might not fit the bill of being immunocompromised if by immunocompromised one means severely immunocompromised (e.g., someone on immunosuppresant medication, or with untreated HIV/AIDS).
But immunity is a continuum and due to illness, people can be anywhere on that continuum.

In reality, people with MPNs are more likely to get infected with SARS-CoV-2, as compared to healthy people:
"As stated in literature, the likelihood of SARS-CoV2 infection seems higher in MPNs compared to the healthy population, in particular for ET, whereas MF patients have the highest rate of mortality."
https://www.nature.com/articles/s(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)

Research actually shows that MPN patients are overall at higher risk of infection, irrespective of being treated or not: "These novel findings of an overall increased risk of infections in MPN patients, irrespective of common cytoreductive treatments, suggest the increased risk of infection is inherent to the MPN."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC77...

I checked for this information when I noticed I catch every cold and every infection around. It never happened before my platelets started going above the limit, that is, before ET.

I hope your husband can get as much rest as he needs and that he recovers well. What helps me is having a pulsoximeter, as it can help know when one needs to go seek health care. Covid-19 is notorious for causing silent hypoxia.
Also, when visiting health care, as where I live no one masks, I use a N95/FFP3 mask fitting my face well.

Many hugs of support,
Tatiana

I think you are right. My hubs got covid twice, has complications from 2nd round. Pneumonia, atrial fib. Although hematologist from Mayo says he’s not specifically “immunocompromised” But I think chances of COVID is increased for sure. He’s in amazing shape so they don’t want to hospitalize him. He looks ok and hospital these days can be a dangerous place! We are keeping an eye on him. So far, so good.

Hi Debra,

In ET the platelets are not only produced in higher numbers than they should be, but they can be also dysfunctional. Platelets play an important role in immunity, as recent research shows, so in people whose platelets are dysfunctional, there can be immune problems even if the person is not under a treatment that can cause lower immunity.
This is my case. It would take me 2-3 months to recover from a regular cold and I was also very likely to develop atypical pneumonia after catching a cold.
Covid is more problematic than a cold. I had Covid-19 in March 2020 and I never recovered from it.
Covid-19 also causes clotting and inflammation, it can rile up the immune system in some people, and might be much more difficult for people with MPNs, who are at higher risk of clotting and whose body experiences inflammation due to the MPN, to clear the infection and recover from the damage it caused.
On several blood cancer organisations it is stated clearly that people with MPNs are much more vulnerable to SARS-COV-2 infections and more likely to have poorer outcomes from infections, so they recommend prevention like updated vaccination and masks.
Wishing a good recovery to your husband.

Many hugs of support,
Tatiana

I am loathe to offer medical advice, but do think how immune compromised we are is very individualized, according to our meds and other health conditions. Your husband may be one who should mask whenever he is around others. Covid twice is a real pia, but thank goodness for Paxlovid, which is what I got when I had it in February. Sending you strength.