Did everyone have a safe and COVID-19 free Thanksgiving this year? We hope so because December is filled with holidays and gatherings. 

COVID-19 is still around and this is the time where cases can spike if we’re not too careful. We may have vaccines for it now, but there are still people unvaccinated who are at risk, including kids ages 5 and up who have recently been eligible to get vaccinated.

If you're still trying to keep the holiday spirit and go out with a bang in 2021, AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is here to help you prepare and plan for an end-of-the-year celebration while staying COVID-19 free. 

Decide How You’re Celebrating The End Of The Year

Make a decision. Your decision is the first step on how to plan for your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and New Year. Whether you are going to someone else's house or having people over you need to consider your health and everyone else's.

If you are going to host a gathering, you need to decide who and how many people you want to come to your gathering. If half of you are vaccinated and the other half isn't, consider having everyone get tested before coming to your gathering. 

But, if you have the opportunity, get vaccinated for COVID-19 now so you can say that you went into 2022 being FULLY COVID-19 vaccinated.

Check For Travel Restrictions 

Everyone's situation is different. Some families have relatives all throughout the U.S. Others have kids returning home from college. The best thing to do when traveling this holiday season is to know your destination’s guidelines. The CDC continues to update its guidelines for travel every day. All airports require that you wear a mask in order to fly, but where you intend on flying may have other rules or restrictions pertaining to vaccination status and/or testing.

If you’re flying domestically, you don’t need proof of COVID-19 vaccination, but you do need to test negative for COVID-19 if you are unvaccinated. If you are FULLY vaccinated, you’re good to fly without delay.

If you’re planning on leaving the country for the holidays, you should check with The CDC for the country of destination. Most countries are still in the red for high counts of COVID-19 cases. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated for COVID-19 as your best safeguard, but to also avoid any travel delay or issues when entering another country. Traveling is still restricted in a good many countries and getting more restrictive, now with the newest omicron COVID-19 variant beginning to emerge.

COVID-19 Testing And Flu shots Are Also A Part of Everyone's Holiday Plans

Besides COVID-19 vaccines, you can expect COVID-19 tests and flu vaccines to be served with your Chanukah latkes or Christmas meal at the table this year. 

Getting a flu shot is also important because the flu season has just begun and ruling out the flu will help when diagnosing COVID-19. Seniors, pregnant women, and high-risk individuals can benefit if you get a flu vaccine because they are immunocompromised. 

You can help them by getting a flu shot so they have one less thing to worry about this Chanukah/Christmas/Kwanza/New Year!

Why It’s Especially Important to Get Vaccinated for the Flu in 2021

AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is ready for the end of the year celebration

AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is open 7 days a week and is located on 1030 Boulevard. 

We are aware of the possible spikes in COVID-19 cases for the upcoming holiday season and are here to help you with your urgent care needs. Our Hartford walk-in clinics offer both COVID-19 rapid testing with results on the same day and standard PCR tests 7 days a week.

AFC Urgent Care in West Hartford also offers flu vaccines to help combat against the flu and keep others with weaker immune systems safe.