Last Ditch Bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, made masks optional on Saturday nights because of financial struggles, after requiring them. Immunocompromised people objected online, saying the change made the bar less accessible to those at higher risk of infection.
Immunocompromised broadly describes people whose immune systems are weakened, temporarily or long term, with severity varying. Most retain some immune function but may have greater difficulty fighting infections and may not mount an adequate response to vaccines. Immunodeficiency, by contrast, is a specific condition in which immune function is impaired or absent.
Reports from JAMA Network cited in the article estimated that about 6.6% of the U.S. population was immunocompromised in 2021, compared with 2.7% in 2013. The article says possible contributors include more people living longer with cancer, organ transplants, immune-modifying medicines and improved diagnosis. Risks and precautions vary; some people choose high-quality masks during periods of high respiratory-virus activity.
