My work is hosting a COVID townhall, hosted by a a doctor...there are some interesting points I'd like to share in a thread. You may know much of this, but if you don't, it is highly useful information.

The new strain of coronavirus going around transmits even more easily than the February version, so be extra careful

Mask needs to cover CHIN, mouth and nose. Masks do help prevent you from getting it, along with offering protection to others.

Getting the flu shot seems to reduce the impact of a covid infection. Get the flu shot.

People with low vitamin D are hit harder, so we should be taking vitamin D. 42% of the US population is vitamin D deficient.

COVID reinfection rate is low. Acquired immunity seems like it'll last at least 6 months after infection.

About the vaccines: normally vaccines need to be monitored for 2 years before approved by the FDA
but most adverse reactions tend to happen in the first 8 months so they are loosening up the requirements given urgency

Vaccine will be free, paid for by the government, though there may be an administration cost. There might be a vaccine certificate we'll have to use to prove vaccination status for things like flights in the future.

This vaccine will likely need a booster. It will probably keep you safe for 1 year. It is important to remember which vaccine you got, you will need a booster of the same type.

Due to supply and logistics issues, you probably won't get to choose which vaccine you get. But make sure you remember which one for the booster. Moderna and Pfizer are MRNA vaccines -new type of vaccine technologies,
long term complications are less known.

You will need to wear a mask even after getting the vaccine. First generation vaccines would not eliminate the possibility that you can have COVID living in your nose, you could still spread the disease to others (!)

You will feel sick for a day or so after getting the vaccine because that's what an immune response feels like.

Even after vaccines are widely available, COVID will become endemic and keep circulating. Do not take it lightly. COVID can cause permanent heart damage
This isn't the flu, it's much more serious.

There is reason for hope: Pfizer and other companies are going to have tens of millions of vaccine doses available by Dec / January. But it's going to be a rough winter.

Looking back at the Spanish Flu, it was the second wave that took the heaviest toll; and it was the holidays that kicked it off. We absolutely see parallels in the way people are acting like the danger is not really there anymore.