When Covid hit with a real wallop, we’d just returned from a 7 day Queensland cruise February 2020 and just before the world lapsed into various levels of chaos and restrictions.
Lockdowns were something we’d never experienced before and the media and social media shifted into a mode that varied from totally supportive to totally dismissive. It was some time before NZ secured supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, as it was initially thought that being an island nation and borders locked down, we’d be relatively safe.
History alone will tell whether or not taking the vaccine and restricting those who couldn’t or wouldn’t be vaccinated was the right course of action, but for us, there was a problem. A major problem. Paula has a well-documented adverse reaction to many drugs, including penicillin and all known antibiotics.
Whilst many friends (and the government!) tried to say there was no problem with the vaccine and that if she didn’t get vaccinated, she’d be a danger to others and/or would die of Covid. It wasn’t too long after the vaccine roll out, that it became known that those allergic to PEG might have issues.
“Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the excipient found in the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. We previously demonstrated PEG allergy was a cause of severe anaphylaxis to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.”
Medical opinions varied but the NZ medical profession was effectively gagged from even expressing an opposing opinion to that of the government.
One high profile professor stated publically that there may be 100 people in NZ who would be adversely affected with an allergy to PEG. However, most said that although recipients could go into anaphylaxis, if under medical supervision, this could be dealt with.
What they failed to take into account, was the sheer terror experienced by those suffering from anaphylaxis with symptoms that effectively shut down the body very quickly.
What complicated things for us was that Paula had already had two heart attacks and the potential for a third brought on by a vaccination could be life threatening. A risk we decided wasn’t worth taking. Whilst the cardiology department advised against the vaccine - verbally, no one would put anything in writing.
Without the vaccine, Paula’s life was severely restricted and despite pleas to the Ministry of Health, no exemption was granted. In fact, the only exemptions granted would be for front line staff - and on a temporary basis.
Many people lost their jobs and businesses were adversely affected, people suffered emotional and mental problems and even getting something simple such as a haircut, was impossible unless vaccinated. Banned from cafes, restaurants and a normal life, was tough.
Fast forward to the cruise industry reawakening and Princess sensibly decided that they could accept a small percentage of passengers who were unvaccinated, provided they made an application.
However, then we hit a stalemate. Princess would consider an exemption if there was accompanying proof of a medical problem. This was granted for a 12 day round GB cruise in 2023 but the Australian authorities demanded a Dr’s approved for Australian cruises (not flights!) and this cruise calls into Brisbane.
Various emails were sent and the local ‘Travel Doctor’ intimated he’d be struck off if he granted an exemption.
More emails including one to the NZ Minister of Health – Andrew Little, which was totally ignored. A second email to the Associate Minister of Health, also the Minister for Seniors, did get a response that was next to useless basically saying it was the Departments of Health’s responsibility and it was an ‘operational matter’.
I emailed again stating that this wasn’t acceptable and that it was tine the media was alerted, then lo and behold, a response from the Department of Health implying that Dr’s could now grant an exemption on medical grounds.
Armed with this latest info, I contacted the Travel Doctor again (Paula’s GP hasn’t exactly been supportive) and he agreed to see Paula so I sent him her medical papers. The consultation was thorough and went well enough for him to agree that Paula shouldn’t risk the vaccine and his report was approved by the excellent and supportive Princess exemption department.
Job done!
The next hurdle was ‘Medallion Class’.
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