With the advancement of COVID-19 vaccinations, many are looking forward to traveling and reuniting with loved ones whom they may not have seen since the beginning of the pandemic. Although vaccines have become readily available, it is still just as important to consider safety precautions when planning for holiday gatherings and travel. Multiple variants that can cause more lasting effects, as the Delta variant and now the Lambda variant, are out there and can be dangerous.
The Lambda variant is a mutation of the COVID-19 virus. This mutation is even more transmissible, which means it can very easily be passed on to others, especially those who are not vaccinated and/or have immunocompromising diseases such as heart disease, asthma, cancer, etc.
Keeping this in consideration, it is a good idea to start planning (if you haven’t already) on how to bring generations of loved ones together while minimizing the risk of COVID-19.
One of the best preparations you can do is encourage family and loved ones to get vaccinated before meeting for the holidays. Having all attendees be fully vaccinated adds another protective measure to ensure the physical health of everyone, especially those who may be immunocompromised. Those who have such conditions are more susceptible to having life-threatening COVID-19 symptoms.
For those who may not receive the vaccine, be sure to get tested ahead of holiday plans and continue following safety precautions such as:
- Avoid gatherings if sick or experiencing symptoms
- Wear a mask when maintaining a six-foot distance is not available
- Wash and sanitize hands often
- Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
Do you or someone in your family need to get their vaccine? UofL Health has COVID-19 testing and vaccines available at our UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus locations by appointment.
If you have more questions about COVID-19 or the vaccine visit UofLHealth.org/Louisville-COVID-19-Vaccinations or speak with your primary care provider. Don’t have a primary care provider? Visit UofL Physicians – Primary Care to schedule an appointment today with one of our providers.
