We’re happy to announce that our clinical staff has received the COVID-19 vaccine! Our team strives to create a safe and sanitized environment while doing our part in ending the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic isn’t over yet, it gives us hope that we’re one step closer to putting this past year behind us. In this blog, we’ll help give you some insight into the vaccine, how it works, and how we’re continuing to create a safe space in our dental office.
How Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Work?
To get an idea of how the COVID-19 vaccine works, we’ll first examine how our body fights illnesses. According to the CDC, our bodies fight infections with white blood cells in a variety of ways. Macrophages, a type of white blood cell, swallow up and digests germs and dead/dying cells and leaves behind part of the invading germs, called antigens. B-lymphocytes, our defensive white blood cells, produce antibodies that attack these antigens left behind by the macrophages. As another line of defense, our bodies also produce defensive white blood cells called T-lymphocytes, which are called memory cells.
When someone catches COVID-19, it can take days or weeks for the body to create and utilize the germ-fighting tools needed to beat the infection. After beating the illness, the body remembers how to identify and fight against the same disease in the future. The T-lymphocyte cells (memory cells) go into quick action if the body reencounters the same virus. The COVID-19 vaccine builds our body’s immunity without our bodies getting the illness in the first place. The vaccine leaves the body with a supply of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that know how to fight the virus.
How We Continue to Create a Safe and Sanitized Environment
Even with our staff vaccinated, we will continue to follow strict guidelines to ensure that we can help create a safe environment for our guests and staff. Some of our safety measures include the following:
- Our staff receives both shots (bringing the effectiveness up to 95%)
- We will continue to wash our hands regularly
- Maintain social distancing when possible
- Continue to wear masks, covering the mouth and nose
- Provide hand sanitizer in each room
- Include Medify Air Purifier in each room, which removes 99.9% of particles
- Check the temperature of our guests upon arrival
Who Can Receive the Vaccination?
Vaccines are getting released to people in phases, based on federal and state guidance and recommendations. We’re currently in Phase 1A, where healthcare workers and people 65 and older can make appointments at their county vaccination sites. The next phase (1B) will include those who are at risk of exposure while at work. These industries include childcare, education, emergency services, food, and agriculture. According to San Diego County, by the summer of 2021, vaccines are expected to be available to everyone.
We’ll See You Soon!
We hope we’ve helped build a safe and comfortable environment for all of our patients and staff! As we get closer to ending this pandemic, we will continue to adhere to our safety guidelines and keep everyone safe. If you have any questions or want to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Carmichael, give us a call at (858) 484-2560 or contact us on our website today!
