The COVID-19 vaccine has been a been a huge undertaking for the leading professionals in the medical world. From the efforts of big healthcare names like Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson, the first SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was finally cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. With so much havoc created by the coronavirus disease in 2020, it didn’t take long for many Americans to flock to receive their shots even under emergency use authorization prior to approval.

Unfortunately, while the vaccine itself has proven effective at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 (especially compared to being unvaccinated), it isn’t a seal-tight solution. Numerous cases of vaccine recipients still catching the coronavirus continue to pop up, and reopening businesses, restaurants, and public spaces certainly don’t encourage the use of caution. Many vaccinated people are accidentally placing too much faith in their shots and are forgetting how to stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they start to relax their guard and gain a higher risk of infection in public.

So what are some good sanitization tips to follow post-vaccination to improve public health? What does proper hygiene look like after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine? Let’s dive in!

The human body is amazing, but that doesn’t mean it’s foolproof when it comes to disease and foreign viruses such as COVID-19. Different pathogens require different immune responses to eradicate. Your body’s defenses are categorized under two different labels: your natural (or innate) immunity, and your adaptive immunity.

Natural immunity comprises of the defenses you’re born with and are sustained by your overall health. Exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and reducing stress can bolster your natural immunity to keep it strong and functional. These immune responses are usually immediate and can also be dictated by genetics. If you tend to get sick less often than others, you might have your body’s innate immune system to thank.

Adaptive immunity, on the other hand, is strengthened over time as your body learns to fight off different invaders. When germs or bacteria get beneath your skin, your immune system arranges the correct antibodies to win the fight. The next time the same visitors stop by, your body remembers what it used last time to deal with the threat, meaning you get over the illness faster. This is why vaccines are so useful for your adaptive immunity—they train your body with harmless mutations of a virus or disease so it can properly defend itself when the real deal shows up.

But there are a lot of different microbial attackers out there, as you may have guessed. If your body is unprepared for them, you can expect an uphill battle that can be detrimental for both short- and long-term health. That means you need to do everything you can to give your body the upper hand!

Hygiene is one of the best ways to protect your body from disease. After all, killing off the germs before they become a problem in the first place is a pretty good solution! But how do you practice good hygiene, especially after receiving your COVID shot?

This may not come as much of a surprise, but all of the advice you heard before the vaccine was available still applies after you receive it. That means your survival guide for 2020 will be just as effective in 2021 and beyond.

In case you’re unclear about the proper procedures, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends physical distancing of at least 6 feet in public places, watching your hand hygiene, keeping your hands away from your eyes and mouth, covering a sneeze, and wearing an appropriate face mask while heading inside public places. Both healthcare settings and healthcare facilities require all guests to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Outdoor community settings are generally considered safe enough to not necessitate a mask, so long as they aren’t crowded. General rule of thumb: if there are a lot of people nearby in an outdoor setting, whip out the face covering.

Cleanliness shouldn’t stop with your body, of course: identifying and disinfecting high-touch surfaces around the home or workspace can play a huge role in keeping disease out. Other surfaces to sanitize include keyboards, steering wheels, mouse pads, doorknobs, and countertops.

As for traveling, we’ve already laid out a guide which outlines the correct safety measures to follow when you hit the road. Just always be mindful of where you go and what you touch, even amongst family members. When in doubt, it pays to be safe rather than sorry! Always check with your health care provider if you grow concerned for your health.

The COVID-19 vaccine does not have a 100% efficacy rate, despite its achievements in slowing the spread of the virus and preventing infections. But because of the hype surrounding the serum, it’s easy for anyone to believe they have nothing to fear after getting vaccinated. This leads to increased risks and exposures out in public, which only ups the chances of contracting and carrying the coronavirus despite your body’s improved immunity—not to mention the other diseases lurking around which haven’t gone anywhere!

The COVID vaccine was designed for COVID. Other virus strains and severe illnesses are still out there, along with common bacterial infections which provoke fevers and colds. Vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike are prone to these diseases!

Consequently, healthy practices like washing your hands often, being mindful of what you touch, and avoiding close contact with strangers are useful for your overall well-being and should become lifelong habits rather than activities you perform just to fight the coronavirus. Keeping up with proper hygiene even after vaccination is a must; a syringe does not magically make you invincible. Don’t fall into a false sense of safety after your COVID shots are finished!

While handwashing is still the best method for keeping your palms and fingers clean, water and soap are not always available everywhere you go. Sometimes you might find yourself in situations where a quick rinse would be a good idea. Unwashed hands can lead to disease quickly!

For scenarios like those, it pays to carry some hand sanitizer with you as you head out into public. Sanitizer bottles are small and effective at removing the germs from your skin, making them the perfect solution to consistently fight off infection while out and about. Muse Health’s Fragrance-free Hand Sanitizer is designed to kill 99.9% of germs while using natural oils to keep your hands soft and fresh after multiple uses. That means less time worrying about cracked skin and more time staying healthy! If you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality option, Muse Health has your hands covered.