One of the hottest, trending words being searched on Google today is VACCINE. If you haven’t Googled it yourself, you likely know someone close to you who has.

As we’re all still learning and trying to make sense of our next step in the battle against COVID-19, I would be remiss if I didn’t share a little of my own personal experience with this trending topic!

I have an underlying health condition. As a result, I qualify as Phase 1B. I know this because my doctor’s office messaged me and directed me to our state health department for more details. And because of my health background and part of my role at my job is to research these very things, I jumped at the chance when I could to get on the list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I had reviewed the research, dug into the sources to verify the studies, and made the choice to be vaccinated when my time came.

I know there is still some uncertainty out there. I know not every doctor’s office is notifying patients. I know there is an abundance of resources and information clouding our brains. But I know we are in unprecedented times — history making, in fact — and we need to give this topic the attention it deserves (from both a public and an individual perspective).

So, with all that said, I wanted to take some time to provide five recommendations and top resources for you to help sort through some of the chaos! I hope these help you.

Be Open and Willing to Learn about the COVID-19 Vaccine

Health literacy is one of the greatest things we can give ourselves. And let me remind you of this…your social media accounts aren’t always a proven health resource. Granted, there are numerous certified health resources that have social media presence — just make sure you know the source of the information provided. Medical journals, peer-reviewed, and evidence-based science will always source its information.

My favorite resource that’s helped with all of my questions is the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Site.

Trust the Science

There is a plethora of information provided by fact-based, non-biased, non-compensated federal organizations. These are not new. They have been around for decades. They now are responsible for evaluating this new virus and understanding what is available to combat it.

My favorite resource for this information is the National Institutes of Health.

Ask Your Physician

If you don’t trust the national entities and the mounds of science-based resources they provide, then trust your personal providers.

Ask your own doctors what they’re doing for themselves and their families. They, too, have studied up, learned the science, and will be able to guide you as they know your individual health journey.

And, if you don’t have a physician, find one! Now is the best time to get started in a relationship with a physician. Telemedicine is accessible and available to almost everyone and takes down many barriers to visiting with a provider.

My favorite resource for this section is, well, my primary care doctor. Shout out to Dr. B & his office!

P.S. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, visit your medical carrier’s website. Options should be listed there for you.

Be Patient in the Waiting

More and more people are stating they’re ready to roll up their sleeve and get the COVID-19 vaccination going. In fact, a survey found that the number of Americans who want to be vaccinated as soon as possible has risen to 47 percent, from 34 percent last month.

I know it’s hard to be patient. I detest standing in lines, I really dislike not getting an immediate answer or response, and if I face one of these situations, I tend to become extra-critical of the process.

When I’m in these situations right now, I’m doing my best to remind myself that this is a time like no other. We don’t have a “best practice” because we haven’t had a pandemic of this proportion during my lifetime. And our public health workers are doing the best they can with the resources and strength they still have left. We must have a mindset of understanding and empathy to get us through this.

My favorite resource helping me with my mindset and my overall mental wellbeing is Joyages! Joyages has FREE COVID-19 video resources. Just click here.

Don’t Grow Weary of Doing Good

While the vaccine is a huge boost to ending this COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not the only thing it will take to combat this. We still need to mask up, wash our hands, and maintain physical distance when going outside our household.

I know none of us ever thought we’d still be talking about this virus a year later and still be in restricted situations. But we can’t lose sight and stop any progress that has been made. More and more research and information are available every day. Use this as a sign of encouragement to know we’re getting better at understanding this.

We have to stay diligent and keep telling ourselves “If we’ve made it this long, we can make it just a little longer!”

My favorite resource in helping me find the latest information going on with COVID-19 is Holmes Murphy’s COVID-19 Resource Center. I encourage you to check it out!

One final thought. When it is your turn and you get the chance to roll up your sleeve and join the fight to help protect as many people as possible, make sure it’s a short sleeve! It sure makes the vaccine injection process easier!

If you still have questions or want further resource guidance, send a note. We’re here to share!