Everyone Wants To Feel Safe.

As many people know, the U.S. has been hit harder than many other countries. With the virus mutating rapidly it is important that we become more cautious of our actions and we utilize the increasingly available testing.

The answer is simple.

It starts with you.

You can choose to practice social distancing.

You can minimize the risk of spreading the virus through wearing a blue surgical mask/N95 mask.

You can opt out of risky social gatherings.

Does this suck? Yes. But will it prevent transmission to those who may not be able to combat the virus? YES.

Please try to do your part because every essential and front-liner worker risks their life to serve society everyday.

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Exhausted and Eager to get Vaccinated?

I know the majority of us are so over this pandemic. Not only were our lives put on hold, but our spirits are down. Although there is no telling how long this pandemic will haunt our everyday lives, it provides us with an opportunity to change our lives for the better.

I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself. This pandemic took a toll on me emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. As I am still working on improving these areas of my life, I sometimes ask myself if all my hard work is worth it.

The answer is yes. You are always worth it.

If there's something about your life you want to change, make it your personal mission to pick yourself up and carry you towards the path you dream to take. Granted, not all things come easy, and not all situations and conditions are presented ideally, but if there's an opportunity to grow, take it.

I know quite a few people who have gotten vaccinated and I want to say thank you. I can't wait to get vaccinated. Vaccinations help the world move forward. It not only gives you a head start at familiarizing your body with the virus, but will also better help protect your loved ones.

How does the COVID vaccination work and how does it differ from normal vaccinations?

According to the CDC, the use of mRNA in vaccines is a new method of developing vaccines. Normally, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, mRNA, or messenger RNA, teaches our cells how to make a piece of a protein that triggers an immune response within our bodies. After the protein piece is made, "the cell breaks down the instructions and gets rid of them. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines give instructions for our cells to make a harmless piece of what is called the “spike protein.” The spike protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19" (CDC, Dec. 18. 2020).

Eventually, the cell displays the spike protein on its surface. "Our immune systems recognize that the protein doesn’t belong there and begin building an immune response and making antibodies, like what happens in natural infection against COVID-19. At the end of the process, our bodies have learned how to protect against future infection. The benefit of mRNA vaccines, like all vaccines, is those vaccinated gain this protection without ever having to risk the serious consequences of getting sick with COVID-19" (CDC, Dec. 18. 2020)

What exactly is mRNA?

"mRNA is single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene, and is read by a ribosome in the process of synthesizing a protein.That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies" (Wikipedia - Messenger RNA)

Bottom Line: We should be thankful that the vaccine came out sooner than many of us expected.



Symptoms & Signs of COVID-19

Here's a very short clip summarizing the symptoms of COVID-19

OVERWIEW:

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

• Fever or Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body pain
• Loss of taste or smell
• Headaches
• Sore Throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

How do you know your symptoms are those of an allergy or something else?

3 Key Indicators: itchy eyes, stuffy nose, and sneezing