Keeping up with the latest guidelines and suggestions regarding COVID-19 can feel like a full-time job. Determining the best way to keep you and your loved ones safe is vital as the world navigates the ongoing ramifications of COVID-19’s global impact.
Coronavirus Updates and Challenges
Knowing how best to protect yourself against COVID-19 and support your community’s fight against the virus involves staying up-to-date on all COVID-19 recommendations and news. From the clinical trials evaluating vaccine efficacy to determining which vaccine is best for you and any medical conditions you might have, it can be difficult to determine which recommendations apply to you and which do not.
We have compiled the latest in coronavirus recommendations and data to help synthesize the course of action currently being recommended by health authorities and governing bodies.
Coronavirus Variants
In recent months, several variants of the original COVID-19 virus have emerged. COVID-19 variants are to be expected; all viruses eventually evolve and develop new strains to more effectively replicate and continue to spread.
Unfortunately, the variants that have emerged have proven more readily transmissible and pose a more substantial hazard than initial strains. The current variant of concern is the Delta variant, which is considered of some concern to public health in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccine Efficacy
There are 3 widely distributed vaccines that have been developed for the novel coronavirus. COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. include the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (a single-dose vaccine) and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (both double-dose vaccines). These vaccines have proven to be effective enough to receive emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Information about the immune system’s long-term uptake of coronavirus vaccine technology is ongoing and emerging. Still, studies continue to support a high vaccination status as the best possible deterrent against the virus. Fully vaccinated people continue to enjoy a much less severe illness, even in “breakthrough” cases or cases where the virus is able to replicate in the body in spite of a vaccine.
Continuing Health Barriers
Barriers to public health include knowing what measures to follow and how long to follow them. This is an issue that has plagued public health initiatives from the beginning, as different government agencies have had different messages, depending on the state, county, and city in which individuals live.
In some areas, for instance, health care professionals urged and successfully campaigned to have mask mandates placed and enforced, in addition to limiting building capacity and strictly enforcing quarantine measures. In others, policies were far more lax.
Mixed messages and uncertainty regarding ideal health policies continue to be one of the most significant barriers to health in the fight against coronavirus.
Coronavirus Symptoms and Signs
If you are exhibiting symptoms and signs of coronavirus, it is important to get tested. Knowing what qualifies as a symptom of COVID-19 and what qualifies as a symptom of the flu, a cold, or another respiratory illness can be difficult, which can make appropriately quarantining or recovering for 14 days difficult, as well.
What are the major differences between COVID-19 and the common cold?
COVID-19 vs the Common Cold
Knowing the likelihood of having COVID-19 instead of a simple cold can be difficult. Differing levels of severity can obscure the likelihood of a virus-infected person being infected by a common cold or COVID-19. The symptoms that COVID-19 and the common cold share include the following:
- Congestion
- Sore throat
- Nasal discharge
- Cough
Fortunately, there are some symptoms of COVID-19 that continue to present in people that deviate from standard cold symptoms, the most significant of which are fever and shortness of breath. While colds can cause shortness of breath and a low-grade fever, difficulty breathing and high fever are highly uncommon and may be a more likely indicator of a COVID-19 infection or influenza.
When to Call Your Doctor
Knowing the symptoms of COVID-19 can help you determine when you should speak to your doctor. Symptoms of the common cold and COVID-19 symptoms intersect in numerous areas, especially in the Delta variant; tell-tale signs such as headache and loss of taste and smell are not as common in this variant, making identification more difficult.
If you experience symptoms of coronavirus and the common cold (sore throat, coughing, congestion, and nasal drip), along with more flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, chills, and even joint pain, it is important to contact your health care team and determine next steps.
Current Testing and Prevention Guidelines
Guidelines continue to change and evolve as the COVID-19 pandemic changes and evolves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases regular changes and updates to policies and recommendations. This is done to keep people apprised of the best possible way to prevent transmission of and infection with the novel coronavirus.
Mask Requirements and Suggestions
Although the CDC previously released guidance encouraging vaccinated individuals to begin moving about unmasked, recent guidelines have encouraged even vaccinated people to continue to wear a mask indoors in areas with high infection rates or high transmission rates.
When to Get a Test
Individuals who are at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 should get a test. These include people who are not vaccinated and have recently attended a large event or traveled in an enclosed space, people who have recently been exposed to someone who has been confirmed to have COVID-19, and anyone who displays symptoms of the virus. After getting a test, practice safe distancing and masking procedures until you receive the results of your test.
Where to Get a Vaccine
Vaccines are available in most major pharmacies and grocery stores. The standard of care is the most significant difference in these areas; large chain pharmacies may not have the time or availability to discuss the side effects and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Smaller pharmacies, such as Carolina Pharmacy, are often a better option for vaccine delivery. Independent pharmacies are equipped to provide patients with a focused, one-on-one approach to vaccine administration, designed to put you at ease and answer any questions or concerns you might have about receiving the COVID-19 immunization.
As you can see in the video below, demand for COVID-19 vaccines and tests has been on the rise in the Charlotte area. Carolina Pharmacy is here to help you get the treatment you need.
Watch video here.
Carolina Pharmacy Is Here to Help
Although we have been living with the novel coronavirus for well over a year, there is still much that is not known about COVID-19. Carolina Pharmacy is home to staff members who are passionate about supporting health and patient education. If you have any questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Charlotte, Lancaster, and Rock Hill and understanding which vaccine is right for you, do not hesitate to reach out to us today!
