Newsletter from the Coastal Health District (May 14, 2021)

The following information is courtesy of the Georgia Department of Public Health Coastal Health District

 

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Weekly Update for 5.14.21

Fully Vaccinated? CDC says you can ditch the mask in many situations.

The Centers for Disease Control made a big announcement yesterday: Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in many indoor and outdoor activities – large or small -- without wearing a mask or physically distancing.

What changed?

A growing number of studies have shown three big things:

  • Our vaccines are working in the real world. Studies show them to be >90% effective in real-world settings in preventing mild and severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
  • Our vaccines have proven to be effective against the variants currently circulating in the country.
  • If you’re vaccinated, you’re less likely to spread the virus. 

The science is clear: if you are fully vaccinated, you are protected, and you can start doing the things you stopped doing because of the pandemic.

Caveats? Surely there are caveats.

Yes, there are exceptions.

  • You should still wear a mask in healthcare settings like hospitals, long-term care facilities, and doctors’ offices.
  • If you travel, you will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. 
  • Fully vaccinated people should still wear well-fitted masks where required by local rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

But how will I know if the people around me have been vaccinated? 

Well here's the beauty of vaccination - according to the CDC, if you are vaccinated, you are protected from those who may not be.

Even if you are one of the rare "break-through" cases and you get infected after being fully vaccinated, the vaccine offers excellent protection against getting really sick.

What do you mean by "fully vaccinated?"

In general, you're considered fully vaccinated:

  • 2 weeks after your second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
  • 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
 

Learn More:

CDC: When You've Been Fully Vaccinated

Still on the fence about vaccination? 

  

If you’re unvaccinated and choose not to wear a mask, you are putting yourself at risk. We encourage anyone who is unvaccinated to continue masking to protect themselves and others who may not have had a chance to be vaccinated yet, like young children.

We encourage everyone to get vaccinated – it is the best way to protect yourself and others, and allow you to safely return to normal.

COVID-19 Vaccination in the Coastal Health District: New Developments

Great news - COVID-19 vaccination is now available for anyone age 12 and older.

This week, Pfizer vaccine was authorized for ages 12+, and we offer Pfizer vaccine every weekday in our Chatham and Glynn County Health Departments. If you live outside these two counties, you are welcome to travel to Glynn or Chatham for vaccination, or use vaccinefinder.org to locate a provider near you with Pfizer vaccine.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are authorized for ages 18+.

Appointments are recommended for COVID-19 vaccine, and you can easily schedule an appointment online at chdcovidvax.org.

We also now offer walk-in service for COVID-19 vaccination, subject to availability of vaccine. The walk-in service is offered during specific hours which vary by county - visit our vaccine scheduling page for walk-in hours at a county health department near you. 

Mobile Vaccination Clinics in Chatham County

The Chatham County Health Department has partnered with CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) to offer pop-up vaccination clinics in different locations around Chatham County.

Visit savannahvax.coreresponse.org for a schedule of vaccination clinics - more dates and locations will be added soon. 

 

Q: I am young, healthy, and rarely get sick. Why should I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

A: While you may be healthy, COVID-19 is still a powerful, highly-transmissible virus. You could become infected and transmit the virus to others who could suffer critical effects. It’s also been shown that many young people who get COVID-19 have long-lasting complications from the infection.

 

How do vaccines protect me?

Hear from medical expert Dr. Kottokamp on how vaccines protect us. 
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This article was originally published by The Landings Association on their website.

Visit landings.org to read the original article.
https://landings.org/news/2021/05/14/newsletter-coastal-health-district-may-14-2021