Vaccines
When looking for information on COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness and safety, trust reliable, medically peer reviewed sources. Kootenai Health follows the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , the foremost experts in disease, infection and population health, and recommend our patients and community do the same.
Kootenai Health strongly encourages every person who is eligible for vaccination to get the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
Viruses and Masks
Viruses are very small. However, viruses don’t move on their own, they must be transmitted in some way. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is transmitted in droplets that come through the nose and mouth. Using a mask creates a barrier that greatly decreases the potential to transmit droplets that could be carrying virus. If everyone wears a mask, we can keep everyone’s germs (droplets) to themselves.
Just as we all cover our cough or sneeze with our elbow or a tissue to keep droplets with germs and viruses from spreading to others, masks also help keep the droplets with germs and viruses from spreading. Wearing a mask is about protecting others.
CDC provides information on how masking helps prevent the transmission of respiratory illness. Wearing a mask has long been used to help prevent the spread of respiratory illness such as tuberculosis and the pneumonic plague. Masking helps us keep our germs to ourselves, protecting others.
Visit the CDC’s website for up to date information on masking recommendations.
