COVID-19
The coronavirus continues to pose a serious public health risk. Viruses constantly change, and new versions emerge. The Delta variant is now the most common strain of the coronavirus in the United States.
You should know that: The Delta variant is more contagious, causes more infections, and spreads faster than the original virus. The Delta variant may cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated people. Although vaccines provide strong protection against severe disease and death, fully vaccinated people can be infected by and transmit the Delta variant.
That is why it is critical to get your vaccine and help your loved ones get the vaccine, too. Vaccines will protect you from severe illness and death from the coronavirus and the Delta variant. After you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in public places.
COVID-19 transmission and protective measures
COVID-19 spreads primarily from person to person. Fighting this disease is our joint responsibility.
Protect yourself and others by making these 6 simple precautions your new habits:
Clean your hands often
Cough or sneeze in your bent elbow - not your hands!
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Limit social gatherings and time spent in crowded places
Avoid close contact with someone who is sick
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Why get a vaccine?
Get a vaccine to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. Vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness and death from the coronavirus and the Delta variant.
Vaccines are safe and effective. Medical experts carefully tested the vaccines among thousands of adults with diverse backgrounds.
What to expect
After getting vaccinated, you might have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.
These side effects could affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.
It typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19. You considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the 2nd dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a one-dose vaccine.
What can I do after I am fully vaccinated?
After you are fully vaccinated, continue to wear a mask indoors in public places. The vaccine will protect you from severe illness and death, but you can still be infected and transmit the Delta variant to others.
If you have a weakened immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even after being fully vaccinated. Wear a mask in public, stay 6 feet apart from others, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you've been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested and stay home and away from others.
