Strategies to Beat COVID-19
Ok, here we are, February 2022 and we are still talking about COVID-19. We are dealing with another variant of the virus, which has led to the highest number of cases that we’ve seen so far in our community and country. BUT! Every day we learn more and have new strategies for prevention and treatment. Let’s spend a few minutes talking about the most important ways that each of us can work to make the COVID-19 pandemic a thing of the past.
Don’t Forget To Mask
Masks work and they are safe! Especially for those children who are too young to receive a vaccine, wearing a mask when around others is one of the most important strategies to keep them safe. Remember, in addition to keeping droplets away from me, I also wear a mask to protect you from the droplets from my nose and mouth that might get you sick and you wear a mask to protect me. Children under two years old do not need to wear a mask but, for all older children (including those with almost every health concern) wearing a mask is a good idea.
Also, during our cold winter months, the bonus is that a mask can keep your face warm.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself from infectious diseases. This includes the vaccine for COVID-19 if your child is 5 or older.
The COVID-19 vaccines were released with a sense of urgency given the worldwide need, but the vaccines themselves were thoroughly studied and tested before they were released (the technology used to make mRNA vaccines has been worked on for 30 years!) The COVID-19 vaccines we use were held to the same safety standards that all vaccines are, and that standard is high.
In addition to the initial safety data, we have been using these vaccines over the last year and we continue to see that they are safe for both adults and children, and they work! Based on the data of who is still getting sick we know that COVID Vaccines have already saved thousands of lives. The vaccines work against the Delta variant and Omicron variant (especially if you get the booster dose when you are due for it).
Just like a mask, getting a vaccine keeps you safe and it also helps to keep those around you safe as you are less likely to be contagious. As members of our community, we can keep each other healthy—what a powerful idea!
As we know, when we get into a car, we never expect to have a problem with the ride (like a car accident) but we still wear our seatbelt to stay protected. In the same way, the people who will get sickest from the COVID-19 infection aren’t planning on getting sick or needing to go to the hospital. To help us get through this pandemic think about the “seatbelt” that we have now to keep us safe—get that vaccine and don’t forget your mask.
