Episode 242: No Masks or Proof of Vax? Staying Safe in the Next Normal If You're Living with MS with Dr. Nancy Sicotte

Mask mandates have mostly ended, and bars, restaurants, public buildings, and other businesses no longer require proof of vaccination. It looks like the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Except for the fact that we're seeing cases of the latest COVID subvariant continue to rise in cities across the country and around the world. So, how do we navigate this post-pandemic world? And if you happen to be immunocompromised, how do you stay safe? Joining me as she has throughout the pandemic, with an update including the steps you can take to stay safe as the world re-opens is Dr. Nancy Sicotte. Dr. Sicotte is a professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Sicotte also Chairs the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee and she leads the MS Society's COVID-19 Advisory Group. We're also talking about a workshop that brought together a group of global experts to weigh in on autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) as a viable treatment for MS. We're sharing the details about an upcoming clinical trial that will test a myelin-restoring treatment for people with relapsing-remitting MS. Evidence from multiple studies shows that members of the Black and Hispanic communities who live with MS can experience a more severe disease course and a higher disability burden. We'll share the details of a presentation from the Academy of American Neurology annual meeting that sheds new light on what may be driving these disparities.  And we'll tell you how you can register to participate in the National African-Americans with MS Registry. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Welcome to the Next Normal!  :22 ECTRIMS hosts an Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (aHSCT) workshop  1:45 FDA Approves clinical trial for a myelin-restoring treatment  6:04 New data may explain racial and ethnic disparities in MS disease severity and treatment  7:45 The National African Americans with MS Registry  10:13 Dr. Nancy Sicotte explains what people with MS need to know to stay safe as they re-enter a post-pandemic world   11:52 Share this episode  32:31 Download the RealTalk MS app for your iOS or Android device   32:51 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/242 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com National MS Society COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for People Living with MS https://www.nationalmssociety.org/coronavirus-covid-19-information/multiple-sclerosis-and-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-guidance ECTRIMS Focused Workshop: Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation For Treatment of MS and Related Diseases https://ectrims.eu/ongoing-educational-programmes/focused-workshops National MS Society Recommendations for aHSCT-Bone Marrow Transplant for MS https://nationalmssociety.org/About-the-Society/News/National-MS-Society-Releases-Recommendations-for-a National African Americans with MS Registry https://www.naamsr.org Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200 Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 242 Guests: Dr. Nancy Sicotte Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy