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Celebrating Safely this Holiday Season

The holidays are quickly approaching - a season for spending time with your loved ones, making festive treats, and attending gatherings. While we have made significant strides in the fight against COVID-19 since 2020, there are still some particular risks associated with large indoor gatherings, particularly during the winter months. This is especially true for the elderly or individuals who may be immunocompromised. See below for some tips to help stay healthy through the holidays!

1

Test if you have symptoms. Are you or a guest experiencing symptoms of COVID-19? Be sure to take a test to prevent the spread of illness. 

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2

Consider canceling if someone in your household has COVID-19. If a member of your household tests positive for COVID-19, you may want to consider canceling your plans to gather for the holidays to minimize the risk of spreading illness. 

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3

Wash your hands. Regular handwashing, particularly if you are preparing food, can help minimize the risk of spreading illness. Remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap.

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4

Consider smaller gatherings or masking if guests are immunocompromised. If members of your holiday gatherings are immunocompromised, you may want to consider wearing masks indoors, convening outdoors, or having a smaller gathering to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure. 

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5

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Communicate your needs and take precautions that make you feel comfortable gathering this holiday season. 

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6

Stay up-to-date on vaccines. Staying up-to-date with vaccines is the best way to help protect yourself from severe cases of COVID-19.4 Speak to your healthcare provider to learn more. 

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At Novavax, we’re thankful for the progress we’ve made to protect public health and that families can resume gathering this holiday season. Learn more about our science.
 

  1. People with certain medical conditions (2023) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html Accessed: 16 November 2023).
  2. Symptoms of COVID-19 (2022) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html (Accessed: 16 November 2023).
  3. When and how to wash your hands (2022) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html (Accessed: 16 November 2023).
  4. CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for Fall/Winter Virus season (2023) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0912-COVID-19-Vaccine.html (Accessed: 16 November 2023).