As 2022 is finally upon us, how are you choosing to live your life during the COVID Pandemic? Understandably, many of us are just trying to get by and be good stewards of our time here. But, as we reflect upon the last year and all the changes, what does it mean to move forward in a way that serves not only us but our global family as well? Here at Innova Primary Care, our mission is to change healthcare from the inside out. This means that we are committed to changing standards within the healthcare system. We will always fight for our patient’s health and well being. We do this by implementing transparency, open communication, and a commitment to service. There is no doubt that the pandemic we all face is a game-changer. With this in mind, how can we all be good stewards of our health and live in a way that unites rather than divides us? No matter where you stand on vaccinations, there are steps you can take every single day to protect your health and those around you. In the interest of transparency, we want you to know that we do advise getting vaccinations against COVID-19 to protect against severe side effects and hospitalization. Vaccines are a trigger point for many, but the facts show that vaccination is effective against experiencing severe illness. While we cannot predict the future, we do know that as of now, vaccination and boosters are your best bet against severe illness. Vaccination does not always prevent contracting the illness; however, they are a safeguard against severe illness and death. Variants will be a part of our lives for quite some time and no one can predict how these variants will respond to vaccination. But, as the approved vaccinations are safe and shown to reduce the severity of infection, why would you not opt to protect yourself and those you love? We are not here to tell you what to do, only to give you the best medical advice available at the current time. With this thought in mind, let’s take a look at other things you can do to care for yourself and those around you, even if you only pass them in the street.

COVID Pandemic - Innova Primary Care

Wash your hands

Hand washing is proven to be an effective way to prevent the spread of germs and infections. The simple act of washing your hands can be a way to keep yourself and others safe, and it’s an easy way to take care of those you encounter day in and day out. Hand washing is an incredibly easy way to protect the health of those around you, whether you know them or not. Here’s a simple way to ensure that your hand washing session is effective: Wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry Wet your hands with water- any temp is fine! Lather up with soap and make sure you cover the backs of your hands and in-between your fingers too. Scrub for at least 20 seconds, sing Happy Birthday in your head til completion of that helps. Rinse your hands thoroughly with water and dry up. Such an easy way to help fight against the spread of COVID-19. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, wash your hands after touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and mask. When you enter into a public space, take advantage of sanitizing stations and be sure to clean up after touching a surface that others may come in contact with as well. Nowadays, there are hand sanitizing stations in multiple locations. Take a second and use the sanitizer. It’s an easy way to protect yourself and others. Hand sanitizer should be at least 60% alcohol to be most effective so check out labels when you can. Carrying a bottle of sanitizer with you is a great way to ensure that you rid yourself of germs you may encounter and prevent the spread of those you unknowingly have acquired.

Get tested

At home COVID testing is now readily available and we suggest you take advantage of the ability to test yourself. The Omicron variant is alive and well (at the time of this post), and while it does not appear to be as severe as the Delta variant, it is still important to know whether or not you are a positive case BEFORE you spend time with others. Accessibility to testing is better than ever before, so you can pick up an at-home test in many locations. If you suspect you have been exposed or just want to be sure that you are in the clear before you spend time with others, why not opt for an at-home test? It just makes sense. The ease of testing makes it possible for you to have answers and prevent the spread of COVID to others. COVID Pandemic - Innova Primary Care

Don’t be a jerk about your stance

Last, but certainly not least, don’t be a jerk. We realize this isn’t a medical stance, but hear us out. We are in an incredibly divided society. Each of us, at this point in the pandemic, has probably chosen where we stand on vaccinations and even the origin of COVID pandemic itself. These things do not matter. Remember that people are more than their stance on COVID. If you have loved ones or family members who do not see eye to eye with you, that’s okay. We encourage you to make solid decisions about what you will and will not put up with. If you do not feel safe in a given environment, don’t attend the function. Would you rather wait until more information is available before you choose to go somewhere, do so? Do you choose to continue to mask up while others don’t, go places where you feel safe? That’s great. Are you still on the fence regarding vaccinations, reach out to your medical provider?  However, remember that being a good citizen in the midst of a global pandemic means that we all have to make the best most informed decisions we can. Remember that long after the COVID pandemic is gone, we will still have families and loved ones. Don’t let this derail you. Innova Primary Care puts our patients at the forefront of all we do. We want you all to be safe and live thriving lives. If you have questions about how you can better protect yourselves and those you love, please do not hesitate to reach out. Here’s to a bright new year!