Healthcare Precautions to Take During an Active Pandemic

Before the onset of COVID-19, most people on the planet had never lived through a pandemic of this magnitude. Although vaccines' availability and efficacy certainly cause joy, the novel coronavirus continues to represent a genuine threat – as evidenced by the emergence of alarmingly infectious new variants and ballooning infection numbers. If you have a compromised immune system or wish to minimize your risk of contracting COVID-19, it behooves you to take the following healthcare precautions throughout this troubled period.

Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine 

At this point, only people with medical conditions that prohibit vaccination have an excuse to be walking around without a COVID-19 vaccine. Thanks to millions of unvaccinated individuals taking advantage of the honor system, the pandemic rages on, and new variants continue to emerge. Despite the copious misinformation polluting social media and certain news outlets, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing severe and fatal cases of the novel coronavirus. Furthermore, these vaccines are available for free and administered at countless clinics, medical facilities, and pharmacies. So, finding a vaccination location shouldn't prove difficult regardless of where you happen to be based.  

In addition to receiving your initial vaccination, make a point of keeping up with COVID-19 booster shots. These shots became available to immunocompromised individuals in late August of 2021, but more and more of us will become eligible to receive them in the coming months.  

Wear a Mask in Public 

Toward the beginning of the summer, many states and businesses relaxed and outright repealed masking rules. At the time, this was meant to serve as an incentive for people to get vaccinated. Unsurprisingly, this backfired spectacularly. Instead of jumping at the chance to get vaccinated, the people who have taken every opportunity to make this situation worse have opted to venture out into public maskless and unvaccinated. Rather than provide these individuals with incentives, the honor system gave them cover to stop following rules they were never keen on following in the first place.

So, even if you've been fully vaccinated, it's still recommended that you continue masking up in public, regardless of whether your current locale has any masking rules in effect. For one thing, the vaccines aren't meant to serve as unbreakable shields against COVID-19 but rather vehicles for preventing severe and fatal cases of it. As with all vaccines, breakthrough infections are possible, and it never hurts to have an additional layer of protection. Furthermore, since vaccinated individuals can still carry virus particles and spread them to unvaccinated individuals, wearing a mask can help save the lives of the unvaccinated and immunocompromised. 

Carry Out Certain Tasks Remotely 

Limiting the amount of time you spend in crowded public spaces can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and diminish your chances of contracting the virus. Fortunately, many businesses have made it easier than ever to shop remotely and take advantage of contactless pickup options. From shopping for groceries to picking up prescriptions, it's never been easier to run certain errands from the safety and comfort of home. Similarly, if working from home is an option, ask your boss about making the switch to remote work.

You can also seek medical advice and mental health assistance remotely. In light of the danger presented by the novel coronavirus, many physicians and mental healthcare professionals have begun offering patients the option of remote consultations. Additionally, if you suffer from a medical condition that requires frequent testing, you may want to look into home-based testing options. For example, people with diabetes should easily find convenient tools for glucose testing at home.   

Even in the best of times, safeguarding your health should be among your foremost priorities. For example, getting your annual flu shot and other essential vaccinations can help protect you from a wide assortment of viruses and infections. As a bonus, being proactive about such things also works to advance public health. Taking care of your health is doubly vital during an active pandemic. Given the highly infectious nature of the novel coronavirus, keeping ourselves and the people around us safe should always factor into our thinking. To this end, put the previously discussed pointers to good use.