As your home care provider, we care deeply about your health and well-being. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our staff received guidance and education in following the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations to ensure both staff and patient safety. We continue to follow their very strict guidelines and have had no transmissions of COVID-19. By the end of October, all our staff and volunteers, who are not medically exempt, will be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and will also receive the Flu vaccine during Flu season.

If you have not done so already, Cornerstone VNA encourages you to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Getting vaccinated can bring you one step closer to enjoying the activities you miss. It is one of the most important things you can do to help protect yourself and your loved ones from this disease. Everyone 12 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions from our patients:

• Why should I get vaccinated? COVID-19 can cause serious illness or even death. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to family, friends, and others around you. The COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us stop the pandemic and return to normal.
• Are COVID-19 vaccines effective at preventing the disease? All COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at preventing the disease. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
• Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe? COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Over 100 million people in the United States are fully vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, and scientists are continuing to monitor their safety.
• Will the shot make me sick? Will I have side effects? You may have side effects after vaccination, but these are normal signs that your body is building protection. The most common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling in the arm where you got the shot, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. If you have these side effects, they should go away within a few days. Serious reactions are rare.

There are many places where you can get vaccinated, and it is 100% free:

• Visit www.vaccines.gov or www.vacunas.gov to find vaccines near you.
• Text your zip code to 438829 (GETVAX) or 822862 (VACUNA) or call 800-232-0233 for locations.
• Call your local pharmacy or visit your local health department website.

Please remember to get your information from valid, reputable sources such as the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO). You can also call 211 (ME and NH) for information. You can also direct questions or concerns to your clinician or call 800-691-1133 to speak to a manager.

Updated: 09/09/2021