.jpg "Lincoln Park campus in the winter with snow")
Before the DePaul community starts planning for winter break, DePaul’s Community Health team wants to outline how you can Take Care DePaul. (Randall Spriggs/DePaul University)
Winter break is quickly approaching. Before you begin to think of cookie baking, gift giving and eggnog, DePaul's Community Health team wants to outline how you can Take Care, DePaul this winter break.
- Celebrate the holidays safely: Before making any plans, review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Holiday Tips web page. It includes information on what to do at in-person events with unvaccinated guests, when to get tested and travel suggestions.
- Booster shots: If you received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, be sure to get a booster, as recommended by the CDC , at least two months after your shot. We also anticipate that more people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine will soon be eligible for a booster, so please review the CDC's website for the latest recommendation.
- Talk to family and friends who are not vaccinated: It's possible some of your family and friends are still hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This holiday season, listen to their concerns with empathy, outline your personal reasons for getting the vaccine, provide them with trusted information and help them schedule an appointment. Respectful and empathetic conversations can help your family and friends confidently choose to get the vaccine.
- COVID-19 testing: If you test positive for COVID-19 over break, report it to the university. The university's contact tracing team can then determine if there were any close contacts within the DePaul community and review your isolation period. Visit DePaul's COVID-19 website for more information.
These steps can help us safely celebrate the holiday season and most importantly, bring us closer to moving past the COVID-19 pandemic.
Take Care, DePaul and happy holidays.