EEH: Celebrate with COVID-19 caution during the holidays

This winter is different than last year.

In the winter of 2020, the highly effective vaccines that protect people from COVID-19 were not widely available. Now, everyone ages 5 and older can get vaccinated.

Experts also didn’t understand the virus as well as they do now. From that perspective, society is in a much better place for this holiday gathering season.

But the pandemic isn’t over, as evidenced by rising infection rates. While many people are protected from severe illness and death by vaccines, there are still too many people who are not vaccinated.

The colder weather and Thanksgiving holiday brought people indoors to gather. Two weeks later, the numbers tell the story. Many of the recent COVID-19 cases can be linked to those gatherings.

There aren’t nearly as many people hospitalized for COVID-19 as there were last fall and winter because of vaccines. But it’s important to remain vigilant a while longer.

“Unvaccinated individuals are at higher risk of getting infected, transmitting the virus to others and becoming hospitalized or dying from COVID-19,” says Jonathan Pinsky, M.D., medical director of infection control and prevention at Edward Hospital in Naperville.

“The small family gatherings we missed last year can be much safer if all adults are fully vaccinated and boosted, and all children ages 5 and older are fully vaccinated,” says Dr. Pinsky.

Act now to ensure everyone eligible is protected by vaccination. As always, continue to take precautions like washing hands frequently, staying home when sick and keeping up on wellness checks and doctor visits.

It’s recommended everyone age 5 and older get vaccinated with the primary series, and everyone age 18 and older get a booster shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone age 18 and older who has been vaccinated get a booster shot at least 6 months after receiving the second Pfizer or Moderna shot or at least 2 months after the single Janssen (J&J) shot.

Preliminary lab studies have found a third dose of Pfizer vaccine provides significant protection against the Omicron variant.

Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States can be used for the booster dose.

To date, 185 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. The evidence is clear and straightforward. The best protection from possible severe illness, long-term health consequences of infection, hospitalization or death is vaccination.

Edward-Elmhurst Health has COVID-19 vaccine appointments available to ages 5 and older, including booster doses for ages 18 and older. It is easy to schedule a vaccine appointment online. You do not need a MyChart account.

Learn more at EEHealth.org/coronavirus.