November 21, 2024
Prevention Against COVID-19
COVID Vaccination Information
Treatment if You Get COVID
Who Should Get COVID-19 Treatments?
If you are age 65 or older or have a high-risk medical condition and have mild to moderate symptoms, reach out to your health care provider to ask about available treatments — as soon you get your positive test result. Treatment works best within the first five or 10 days of illness and can reduce the chance of being hospitalized by up to 88%.
How To Get COVID-19 Therapeutics
There are different types of treatments available. Your health care provider will help determine which one is right for you. If you do not have a health care provider, you can call (802) 365-4331 to make an appointment to see one of the Grace Cottage Family Health providers. If you feel very ill, go to the nearest emergency room.
Antiviral Treatments
There are different types of treatments available. The most effective antiviral pill, Paxlovid, is available at Messenger Valley Pharmacy, across the street from Grace Cottage Family Health. Your provider and one of the pharmacists will help determine whether this or another treatment is right for you and how to take it.
Given the complexity and dynamic nature of this issue, it is best to refer to the state website for more information.
COVID-19 Vaccination – General Information
Last updated 9/30/24
Top Reasons to Get Vaccinated Against COVID
By Dr. George Terwilliger, Grace Cottage Physician
- You want to live. Millions of people have died of COVID. Your death can be prevented, just by the simple act of getting vaccinated.
- You want to stay as healthy as possible. Many people who have had COVID and have recovered are suffering from symptoms that won’t go away. This “Long Haul COVID” can involve exhaustion, headaches, muscle aches, brain fog, and other debilitating conditions. At this point, we don’t know how long these continuing symptoms may last. Why would you take the risk that you might get COVID and then have symptoms for the rest of your life, when there’s an easy way to prevent this?
- You want to keep those you love alive and healthy. Without the vaccine, you are a potential spreader of COVID. Do you want to be responsible for harm done to your loved ones?
- The vaccines WORK! The vaccines authorized for use in the US are remarkably effective.
- The vaccines are safe. The technology used was in the works for many years and, with almost unlimited emergency funding and resources, they were created quickly and safely without cutting corners.
- Getting a vaccine is convenient. There are many ways to get the vaccine. Go to your state’s Department of Health website, where you can find the most updated information or schedule an appointment for a vaccine.
- We all need to be vaccinated. The only way we’ll beat this virus without hundreds of thousands more dying is if enough people get vaccinated.
- The shot doesn’t hurt much. Almost everyone I’ve spoken with has said that they didn’t even feel the shot being given. Yes, there are often after-effects, such as a sore arm and sometimes fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, but they disappear in about 24 hours; certainly preferable to getting the virus.
To borrow Nike’s slogan, please “JUST DO IT.” I guarantee that you’ll be quoting Staples’ slogan: “THAT WAS EASY!”
High-Risk Health Conditions
Those who have certain high-risk health conditions have increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the CDC:
- Active current cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (also called emphysema) and chronic bronchitis
- Heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease (angina, acute and chronic ischemic heart disease), cardiomyopathies, and pulmonary hypertension. Does NOT include high blood pressure.
- Immunocompromised (weakened immune system), due to solid organ transplant, blood, or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, or other causes; or HIV with a low CD4 cell count or not on HIV treatment; prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune suppressing drugs.
- Severe obesity (BMI of 40 or above)
- Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Disabilities including chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome; intellectual disabilities (IQ of 70 or below); disabilities that compromise lung function (neurologic and muscular conditions such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and multiple sclerosis).
- Sickle cell disease
Please continue to check this website and the Vermont Department of Health website for the latest information.
Other Useful Links
For answers to frequently asked questions, click here.
To learn about scheduling a COVID-19 test, click here.
