COVID Safety Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

For nearly two years, the world has been impacted by the threat of COVID-19. From going to work to congregating with friends to visiting family members, virtually every facet of our lives has needed to be amended. Still, with the ready availability and proven effectiveness of vaccines, thereโ€™s certainly cause for hope. However, as much as we all long for a true return to normalcy, regarding the novel coronavirus as a non-threat is likely to have undesirable consequences. In the interest of steering clear of COVID-19 this winter, make a point of avoiding the following mistakes.

Not Getting Vaccinated  

If you truly wish to see this pandemic come to an end, you need to get vaccinated โ€“ unless, of course, you suffer from a medical condition that makes vaccination unsafe. Refusing to get vaccinated amidst an active pandemic is irresponsible, selfish and potentially deadly. So, if you still havenโ€™t gotten vaccinated, thereโ€™s no time like the present to rectify this mistake. All three currently-available COVID-19 vaccines are being administered free of charge at an extensive range of pharmacies, pop-up clinics and other healthcare facilities. This ensures that neither affordability nor accessibility will be a hindrance to your vaccination efforts.  

While itโ€™s true that breakthrough cases are possible, being fully vaccinated will give you a tremendous layer of protection against serious and fatal cases of COVID-19. Although minor side-effects are common, they shouldnโ€™t bother you for very long, and theyโ€™re certainly preferable to an active case of COVID. 

Not Getting Your Vaccine Booster 

In addition to getting your initial vaccine dose(s), youโ€™ll need to remain current with booster shots. At the present time, adults who are at least six months past their second dose are eligible to receive a vaccine booster. Furthermore, adults who received the Johnson & Johnsonโ€™s Janssen vaccine should be at least two months past their initial dose.

While getting yet another dose of vaccine may strike you as cumbersome, boosters are essential to maintaining healthy antibody levels. The longer the novel coronavirus presents an active threat, the more booster shots weโ€™ll ultimately need. So, even after youโ€™ve gotten your first booster, stay current with new developments from the CDC, as this will ensure that you know when to receive subsequent shots.    

Ignoring Important Symptoms  

If youโ€™re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, it is your duty to get tested before proceeding to interact with others or go out in public. Additionally, if youโ€™re symptomatic, take care to get in touch with your doctor or healthcare provider. Make sure to call before proceeding to go anywhere, as they likely have specialized procedures for patients with COVID symptoms. If itโ€™s an emergency, however, mask up, go to the ER and inform them ahead of time that you think you have COVID. 

In a non-emergency situation, a good family physician should be able to calmly walk you through the next steps via video call or other remote means. Bluegrass State residents looking for the right family doctor are encouraged to bring up their favorite search engines and type โ€œgeneral family medical practice Fort Mitchell, KYโ€ into the search box.  

Congregating with Unvaccinated Individuals 

The desire to maintain important relationships is perfectly understandable. After all, the relationships we cultivate are arguably the most valuable things in our lives. However, if requesting that a friend or family member get vaccinated is somehow crossing a line with them, it may be best to rethink this relationship. 

Regardless of their intentions, individuals who refuse to receive free, readily available, highly effective vaccines amidst an active pandemic are displaying a clear lack of concern and consideration for the people with whom they interact. No matter how important someone is to you, you shouldnโ€™t have to make yourself less safe to avoid upsetting them. Congregating with unvaccinated people individuals during the present time represents a considerable risk to your health โ€“ and the health of those around you โ€“ so even if it means drawing the ire of someone you care about, you should avoid gatherings attended by unvaccinated and/or generally un-cautious individuals.    

Many of us are suffering from pandemic fatigue. Since weโ€™ve been living under the active threat of COVID-19 for nearly two years, thereโ€™s little wonder as to why. However, even though weโ€™d all like to see this pandemic come to a definitive end, this is not yet the case, and weโ€™ll likely have to continue exercising common-sense precautions for the foreseeable future. As such, anyone looking to have a COVID-free winter would do well to steer clear of the blunders discussed above.   

 

Jeff Campbell