Flying internationally

[Anonymous]

I am scheduled to fly soon for work, am in the second trimester, vaccinated.

Feeling nervous about delta and my destination does have pretty high rates (honestly here might be worse though). It also has a poor health care system (though one I trust in normal times).

Should I postpone? I do need to go before I deliver, or should, so maybe now is best? I would be eligible for a booster perhaps in November if they’re allowed.

[Anonymous]

Do not fly while pregnant during covid. Use zoom like the rest of us. There is no reason to travel for business right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not fly while pregnant during covid. Use zoom like the rest of us. There is no reason to travel for business right now.

Not in this case. But thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not fly while pregnant during covid. Use zoom like the rest of us. There is no reason to travel for business right now.

Not in this case. But thanks.

What must you do in person? If doctors can do virtual visits, it’s doubtful your presence is needed in person.

[Anonymous]

Evaluate how you will feel if you get sick and heaven forbid something happens to the pregnancy. Still worth the trip? Still necessary?

[Anonymous]

Pregnant women have increased risks with covid, and flying presents increased risks for covid.

[Anonymous]

If you truly must go , meaning it can't be done by Zoom, no one else can go in your place, or the meeting can't be postponed to post-pregnancy, and it's a dire life/death type situation.

Find the quickest flight there. Book at a time when there will be fewer people, try to arrange it so you have the aisle to yourself. Wear a mask and keep it on the entire time. No eating and drinking in public. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently.

But even with that you could still end up needing medical care in a covid hotspot. So you should probably just stay home

[Anonymous]

Would your career really suffer from not going, OP? Because it's true that pregnancy slightly increases your risk of Covid complications.

Also, may I ask which vaccine you took and when?

Here's what you need to know: vaccine immunity wanes in a few months, but more in Pfizer than with Moderna, because Moderna contains 3 times more mRNA. J&J wasn't as protective to begin with. However Moderna also has slightly more clotting risks associated with it than Pfizer, and those are currently being studied. Since those risks are extremely low, "slightly more" still means they're extremely low. But you should know this to be fully informed.

I chose the Moderna vaccine, knowing all this. If I were you, I would not travel at all. If you have to travel, I suggest you get a Pfizer booster if you are 5 months past your second vaccine dose (or first J&J). 5-6 months is when the Israel government study determined that vaccine immunity waned significantly in the populations they studied. There are some major confounding factors in that study, notably that they could not control for the following: people who were vaccinated very early were highly exposed or highly vulnerable so it makes sense they might catch Covid at a higher rate than others, and that their "waning immunity" would therefore appear to be more significant than it might actually be for the average person. However, Fauci is pushing for a booster at the 5 months mark, because you can't get away from the stark 50% drop in vaccine efficiency after 5-6 months, even if non-highly exposed populations.

[Anonymous]

Also, wear an N95 mask with head strap that goes around the head, those ensure the closest fit. Do not take off your mask on the plane unless you absolutely have to, to hydrate and take a few bites. Sanitize your hands regularly.

[Anonymous]

Why do you feel you must travel?

I bet you $100 that the travel really isn’t necessary.

[Anonymous]

You all really think that the vaccine does nothing, don’t you?

I don’t get it, honestly. I flew 4 times this summer already, just not internationally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all really think that the vaccine does nothing, don’t you?

I don’t get it, honestly. I flew 4 times this summer already, just not internationally.

?

Vaccines protect most people from dying.

Vaccines do not protect anyone 100%.

There are increased risks of pregnancy complications with covid, and flying internationally comes with increased risks.

I cannot imagine anything work related prompting me to take that risk, and I have a fancy dc job with a $40M portfolio including international work. Zoom works. Signatures can be handled remotely. Court appearances can be arranged virtually.

Truly curious what the op thinks cannot be accomplished without her physical presence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not fly while pregnant during covid. Use zoom like the rest of us. There is no reason to travel for business right now.

Not in this case. But thanks.

Are you delivering humanitarian aid? If not, stay home. Tell your employer your physician has forbidden you go to in your condition. “Pregnant employee forced to travel overseas for work during pandemic, contracts virus, loses baby” is not a headline your company wants associated with their name.

[Anonymous]

Yes you should postpone till you have delivered your baby. At least that’s what I would do. If I had to travel because of a medical emergency of a close family member I might reevaluate differently but I wouldn’t take the risk for just work.

[Anonymous]

Well it’s not just work, and I’ve already postponed for two years and I know traveling with an infant left at home is very hard. I’d be looking at another year maybe.

I am looking for actual risk statistics.