The Vaccine – A Beacon of Hope

2020 was a long, arduous year. We are all COVID-weary. The most amazing blessing, the opportunity be among the first in the region to be vaccinated against COVID-19, has been granted to those who live and work at Deerfield. The beacon of hope for a future free of COVID-19 mitigation measures and worries shines brighter than ever before. However, no one will not be immune from COVID-19 the moment they accept their vaccine on January 12th. Vaccine induced immunity (with an efficacy of 95%) requires two doses plus an extra couple of weeks. Furthermore, while we know that the vaccine prevents disease, we do not know if it fully prevents infection; this means that people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 may be able to contract the virus and transmit it to others even though they don’t get sick themselves. We need to continue to carefully practice mitigation measures that work (wearing a mask, socially distancing, and washing our hands). And now, during this most dangerous season of the pandemic, we need to hunker down, stay home to the greatest extent possible, and avoid inĀ­-person socializing with people we do not live with.