Posted on 01/31/2022 5:17:46 PM PST by nickcarraway
Jason Wilson has had kidney failure since he was 10 years old
A South Carolina man has been declared inactive on a kidney transplant list after he said he has no plans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Jason Wilson has had kidney failure since he was 10 years old.
Advertisement For a while, his condition improved, he said.
But about two years ago, he began dialysis and was placed on Medical University of South Carolina Health's list for a kidney transplant.
It was on Nov. 1 that he got a letter from the health system that said he would be moved to inactive status if he didn't get the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 1, 2022.
"If you do not wish to be vaccinated, we will move you to inactive status until we are able to verify proof of completed vaccination," it read, in part.
Wilson said there was an effort to get him on board.
"Right before they moved me to inactive, I got a phone call from a manager down there at MUSC and she had asked me what it was going to take, what could they do to make me get the shot? And I said, at this time there's nothing you can say," Wilson said.
A spokesperson shared a statement with sister station WYFF on the policy.
"MUSC Health is part of a growing number of transplant centers who are making this same requirement, due to the overwhelming evidence of improving patient outcomes post-transplant for those who are vaccinated.
"Before declining transplant candidacy, every effort is being made to understand the rationale behind individual vaccine refusal and to reduce barriers or misinformation related to vaccine acceptance.
"As part of the transplant process, we require many vaccinations and wellness exams to be completed (colonoscopy, mammograms, pap smears, etc), in addition to COVID-19 vaccines. All of these requirements are to assure a safe and successful post-transplant outcome," said Heather Woolwine who serves as the Director of Public Affairs, Media Relations and Presidential Communications for MUSC.
Wilson said doctors told him he has about five to seven years on dialysis.
He's now in year two.
"I know for me right now, I got a little bit of working room to kind of hold up to see what happens in the future," he said.
"I see it as so unethical, I see it as inhumane and I do believe that it's unconstitutional," said State Rep. Ashley Trantham.
Trantham heard about Jason's story and after unsuccessful attempts to get him back on the list, turned toward a different direction.
"The only other thing that I can think of doing for him was to file legislation that says that any hospital system cannot deny somebody the opportunity for that lifesaving procedure based on their COVID vaccination status," she said.
She said the bill also addresses insurance companies to ensure that they can't deny coverage.
Trantham said she's hopeful lawmakers will move forward with the bill.
In the meantime, Wilson said he's hoping a COVID-19 vaccination requirement will ease over time.
"Maybe they can kind of back up on the shot and just leave it as highly recommended like the flu shot," he said.
Hah! Can’t wait for them to put out urgent calls for “pure” blood donations. And you know that will be coming down the road.
I had a liver transplant last year. I met with my hepatologist last Friday and brought up this issue. He told me they do test the donor, living or not before declaring the organ safe for transplant. At least in the near future, this is gonna be standard op.
He also told me that, at least at the center I was at, the vaccinations are required.
I can only hope they change their policies sometime in the near future.
I got lucky, I waited 4 years on the list and got “the call” last May. I had received two shots by that time.
All the best to you, let’s hope this madness ends sooner rather than later.
I’ll pray that you won’t have to wait much longer.
I had two shots before my transplant, and one some time afterwards.
I won’t be getting a fourth, I’m done with it.
Maybe he could ask Lindsey Graham to help./s
Test for what? Is there really scientific justification for only allowing transplants to the vaccinated.
What about directed organ donations.
They test the donors, living or cadaver, for COVID. A living donor who is donating part of their liver or another organ has to be tested so the recipient isn’t going to be infected. The living donor or cadaver donation will be rejected if it is infected. After surgery, I was full of anti-rejection meds which knocked my immune system way down. That is when we are at the most vulnerable.
Their position, I think, is “ an organ free of COVID, a vaccinated patient, good to go”.
Forgive me, if I am being foolish, but if they test the organ for COVID, is the vaccine necessary?
Are people who live in the United Kingdom in the 90s allowed to donate blood?
I guess in their minds it’s for the recipient’s protection; if the patient isn’t vaxxed, their recovery chances are less. I don’t know what science they base it on. FAUCI’s, I guess. If the transplant community has data supporting that, they should make public.
But you know how that goes, we are the last to find out anything.
Let’s be clear. Most members here are against serum mandates as am I.
I may have misread your original post. If we agree that most here are against these serums, then my post was off.
I wonder if such people can donate organs?
They are denying medical care to pureblood patients for political reasons.
When you see we’ll known antvaxxers die of COVID, assume they were not given the same care a vaxxed patient would be.
Death panels. :(
Given the last couple years, I am not convinced MOST here are against mandates, punishing those that don’t take them, cutting them off from society.
I might say a slim majority, not most.
This must be resisted.
Peacefully non-comply.
“What about directed organ donations.”
A directed organ donation is a live donor (vs a deceased donor). The transplant teams at the centers that perform these are the same for all kidney transplants. My belief is the donor and recipient would require a covid shot.
Of course, you can always order up a kidney from a Uighur in China :-).
Not at all accurate. FR posts weigh heavily against Mandates.
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