Getting the COVID-19 vaccine helps reduce the spread of the virus. The vaccine also protects you and those around you from getting seriously ill. For your convenience, the medical team at Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness offers COVID-19 vaccines at their office in Bowie, Maryland. The team also provides rapid COVID-19 tests to quickly determine if you have the virus so that you can take the proper precautions. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine, call Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness today or book an appointment online.

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What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes the disease that makes some people severely sick.

While many people with COVID-19 can recover at home, immunocompromised people and the elderly are at increased risk of developing severe symptoms requiring hospitalization and intensive medical care.

The COVID-19 virus spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets that contain the virus. These droplets float through the air and enter the body through the nose, eyes, or mouth.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to life-threatening and include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Shortness of breath
  • Loss of smell or taste

More severe symptoms of the virus include trouble breathing and severe chest pain that require emergency medical care.

To lower your risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people get the COVID-19 vaccine.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?

COVID-19 vaccines can lower your risk of developing severe illness if you contract the infection. There are several vaccines currently available that are both safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms and death.

The vaccines work by helping your body build immunity against the virus without giving you the virus. Some vaccines require two doses spaced about four weeks apart to fully protect you from a serious illness. Two weeks after your final vaccine, you are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In addition to reducing your risk of developing severe symptoms, COVID-19 vaccines also lower the risk of spreading the virus to others.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?

No vaccine is 100% effective at preventing disease. But the existing COVID-19 vaccines can significantly reduce your risk of developing long-term health complications, hospitalization, and premature death. Research continues on how long you remain immune from the COVID-19 virus after your vaccination.

Like any vaccine, there is a small risk of side effects following your vaccination. However, these side effects usually last for a day or two before going away on their own.

If you’re unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine because you have an underlying health problem, you should continue to follow the CDC’s guidelines. Make sure that you social-distance and wash your hands regularly. Get regular tests for COVID-19, especially if you develop symptoms or come into contact with a person who has the virus.

To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine, call Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness today or book an appointment online.