Unvaccinated teacher, 41, battling cancer dies of Covid after her doctor told her not to get the shot
A Florida teacher who was fighting leukemia has died from Covid-19 complications after her family said she followed the advice of her doctor and did not get vaccinated.
Kelly Peterson, 41, from Polk County, Florida, who worked at Lake Shipp Elementary, was undergoing treatment for leukemia when her doctor advised her against getting the shot, according to her family.
'Because her leukemia was so bad at this point, their concern was that by getting the vaccine that potentially it could put too much stress on her body,' her sister Christy Peterson told Fox 2 FTVU.
'She had voiced many times the fear of if she did contract Covid that she was afraid that it would kill her - unfortunately, that's what happened.'
Kelly Peterson, 41, from Polk County, Florida, died of COVID-19 after returning to in-person teaching at Lake Shipp Elementary, where her family believes she caught the virus
Polk County called for their teachers to return to the classroom, per state regulations, meaning Peterson - a fifth-grade science teacher - had to return too.
After teaching virtually for a year, Peterson, who is immune-compromised due to her cancer treatment, took extra care to make sure her classroom was sanitized regularly and wore a mask.
Polk County - the seventh-largest school district in Florida - does not have a mask mandate, but does 'strongly recommend' that students to wear one.
'She gave everything she had for them every day. She treated every one of them like they were her own children,' her sister told Fox.
Peterson had leukemia and her doctors recommended she forego the vaccine. The vaccine effectiveness could potentially lessen in those who have a weakened immune system, however, the CDC still recommends cancer patients and survivors receive the vaccine
In a Facebook post on Monday, Christy said: 'The world will never be the same, early this morning Kelly Peterson earned her angel wings.' She said Peterson died 'peacefully' and 'didn't suffer.'
Peterson was in one of the few groups where doctors might recommend holding off on getting the vaccine. Those who are immunocompromised, have had allergic reactions to vaccines in the past, or are hypersensitive should consult their doctor before getting the shot.
In a tribute post to her sister, Christy said the 'world will never be the same' and told Fox that her sister 'treated her students like her own'
Peterson's cancer treatment caused her to be immunocompromised, which could potentially cause the vaccine response to be lowered.
The CDC recommends those who are immunocompromised get a third dose - if receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine - four weeks after getting the second shot. This is the only group the CDC recommends this option for at the moment.
The CDC does, however, recommend cancer patients and survivors to get the vaccine.