Effective Ways to Help Others During an Ongoing Pandemic
Thanks in large part to new COVID-19 variants and millions of Americans’ refusal to get vaccinated, the threat posed by the novel coronavirus has continued to impact our daily lives. In such frustrating, scary and downright unprecedented times, it’s important that we look out for another and pay special attention to those who are most at risk. Fortunately, helping others amidst this ongoing pandemic isn’t quite as tall an order as it may seem. A little bit of effort on your part can help keep vulnerable individuals safe until we’re truly able to put this public health crisis behind us.
Get Vaccinated
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best thing you can do for yourself and public health in general. Not only does being fully vaccinated provide you with tremendous protection against serious and fatal cases of COVID-19, it also helps protect the people with whom you interact. While breakthrough cases are entirely possible (as is the case with any vaccine), your odds of winding up in the hospital or dying of the novel coronavirus plummet exponentially when you are protected by a vaccine. That being said, the vaccines shouldn’t be viewed as impenetrable force-fields. While they’ll do a lot to protect you, you’ll still need to wear a mask in public and continue taking other common-sense precautions.
Unless you suffer from a medical condition that precludes you from getting vaccinated, make a point of getting your vaccine as soon as possible. In addition to being available free of charge, vaccines are currently being administered at a bevy of clinics, pharmacies and medical centers. So, no matter where you’re based, neither accessibility nor affordability will be a hindrance. You should also stay current with COVID-19 boosters and get tested if you’ve been around someone with an active coronavirus infection.
Encourage Others to Get Vaccinated
In addition to getting vaccinated, you should encourage everyone who values your opinion to do the same. Due to the disturbing amount of misinformation being peddled by certain pundits, public figures and media outlets, a frustrating number of people are refusing to get vaccines that have repeatedly been shown to be safe and effective. When addressing such individuals, make an effort to present the case for vaccination in a calm, even-tempered manner. Try to make these people understand that vaccination contributes to public health as a whole – and the sooner the vast majority of us get vaccinated, the sooner things can truly return to normal.
Because vaccination and the pandemic in general have become such needlessly polarizing topics, there’s a chance many of the people you try to convince aren’t going to take your advice. At the end of the day, all you can do is try to nudge them in the right direction. Any poor choices they make – and any consequences they suffer as a result – are entirely on them. It’s unfortunate to see people you care about embracing – and even spreading – dangerous misinformation, but these individuals are ultimately responsible for their own behavior.
Assist the Immunocompromised
If you have any friends, family members or loved ones who suffer from compromised immune systems, take care to provide them with assistance in a variety of areas. For example, if venturing out into public carries a heavy risk of infection for someone in your life, why not volunteer to run assorted errands for them? Furthermore, if any of the seniors you know aren’t particularly tech-savvy, teach them how to place online orders from various retailers and how to run certain errands remotely.
You can also help vulnerable people by actively taking part in charitable causes. Food drives, for instance, can be particularly helpful to people who are currently struggling to make ends meet – not to mention starving kids.
Although the ready availability of vaccines has helped make headway into the demise of COVID-19, the pandemic facilitated by the novel coronavirus continues to rage on. With a depressing number of Americans refusing to get vaccinated or take common-sense precautions, the rest of us need to be extra-vigilant in our preventative measures and do what we can do to protect the most vulnerable among us. When it comes to helping others amidst an ongoing pandemic, you’re sure to find that a little bit of effort can go a long way.
