SHAWANO, WI-As the weather begins to cool and the holidays approach, people naturally
will start thinking about making holiday plans with family. While the holidays are a great time
for celebrating special moments with friends and family, it’s important for everyone to consider
ways to keep their loved ones safe.
“The danger of spreading or contracting COVID-19 is still very real,” said Long Nguyen, DO,
Family Medicine Specialist with ThedaCare Physicians-Wautoma. Dr. Nguyen has been
caring for COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic, providing recommendations for
vaccinations, testing and treatment. “The best way to protect everyone present is to limit your
family gatherings to those who are fully vaccinated.”
A person is considered fully vaccinated if they have received one dose of the Johnson &
Johnson vaccine or two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Additionally, people
should consider getting a booster shot when eligible. ThedaCare is currently scheduling
booster shots for groups who are eligible.
If it isn’t possible for everyone at an event to be vaccinated, or if the vaccination status of the
guests is unknown, the next best precaution is to encourage mask-wearing, Dr. Nguyen said.
Unvaccinated guests may include children under age 5 as they are not yet eligible for the
vaccine.
“While we naturally want to greet friends and family at holiday gatherings, the pandemic is an
unusual situation that requires attention and caution,” he said. “It’s best to ask people to greet
each other from a distance, which can help keep kids and others who aren’t vaccinated safer
from the virus.”
Additionally, it’s important to remember that people with compromised immune systems due to
medications or health conditions are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19, even when they
have been vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
these individuals should follow all precautions recommended for people who are
unvaccinated, including wearing a mask and avoiding crowded indoor spaces.
Families who will have a person with a compromised immune system at their gathering should
take extra precautions to protect that person, including wearing masks and spacing out
seating to create social distancing.
The CDC recommends that even people who are fully vaccinated should wear masks indoors
in public settings where transmission is high. The CDC additionally recommends people who
want to hold holiday parties should ideally meet outdoors. When meeting outside isn’t
possible, keeping windows or doors open and using a window fan to help push air outside can
help keep the air fresh and reduce the spread of viruses.
Families who plan to gather with people from multiple households, or travel from other parts of
the country, should consider taking additional measures, including avoiding crowds prior to
travel or getting COVID-19 tests before the event, Dr. Nguyen said.
“If you are sick or if you have any symptoms, you should cancel your plans to help keep
others safe from the virus,” Dr. Nguyen said. “While we all look forward to getting back to
traditional celebrations and events, it’s still important to continue practicing precautions so that
we can do our best to stay healthy.”
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue,
nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, congestion or runny news, a headache or muscle/body aches,
sore throat, or a new loss of taste or smell.
Patients should seek emergency care if they have trouble breathing, have a persistent pain or
pressure in their chest, have trouble staying awake, are confused or have pale, gray or blue-
colored skin or lips, according to the CDC.
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