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COVID-19 IN 2021 wCboteOhmrTgleVdhuaIeocnDhhuma-it1nsabe9bl2rdeeso0aiia1cnurk9acnt.leed

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COVID-19, WHICH REFERS to the strain of coronavirus that and 60% of patients suffered ongoing inflammation in
was classified as a pandemic in the U.S. in March 2020, is a the heart.
respiratory disease that can be easily transmitted between
individuals. While many people infected with COVID-19 will Heart issues aren’t the only problem. Researchers have also
have a variety of symptoms typically experienced with other learned that in some patients, the inflammatory response
respiratory illnesses, as well as a new loss of smell and/or to COVID-19 causes an increase in potentially deadly blood
taste, that’s not where the issues end. clots. Blood clots can lead to many dangerous health issues,
including heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism.
Early on in the pandemic, the American Heart Association
(AHA) recognized that many hospitalized patients were As more patients are infected with COVID-19—and
experiencing cardiac injuries. In fact, almost a quarter of scientists learn more about conditions that may develop as a
patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are diagnosed with result—doctors are discovering new and innovative ways of
cardiovascular complications. But it doesn’t stop there: In a treating COVID-19 and its complications.
study published in JAMA Cardiology, researchers performed
cardiac MRIs on 100 recently recovered COVID-19 patients. TO LEARN ABOUT COVID-19 RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Heart abnormalities were found in 78% of patients examined, AT ATRIUM HEALTH NAVICENT, VISIT WWW.
NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG/COVID-19-RESOURCES.HTML.

Checking In on the

COVID-19 VACCINES

Many people are eagerly awaiting their turn to take the COVID-19 vaccine to control and,
ultimately, end the pandemic.

IN THE YEAR since COVID-19 began help stop it. For that to happen, however, your immune system to fight the virus
dominating our lives, two vaccines have a large number of people will need to in case of infection. It’s normal to have a
received emergency use authorization from get vaccinated—two shots per person fever or other symptoms after vaccination.
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. are necessary for the currently approved That means the vaccine is working and the
The vaccines, made by Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines—to achieve herd immunity process of building immunity is underway.
and Moderna, are 95% and 94.5% effective, across the population. Herd immunity, a
respectively, at preventing COVID-19. natural form of infection protection, can For now, follow social distancing
Additional vaccines are also in development. develop when a large enough percentage protocols and wear a mask.
of the population—at least 80%—becomes
Now that vaccines are available, it will immune to the infection. Herd immunity IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
be important to take advantage of them offers protection to non-immune people. THE COVID-19 VACCINE,
when it’s your turn. Wearing a mask and SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT
social distancing can help control the Getting a COVID-19 vaccine won’t give WITH ATRIUM HEALTH NAVICENT.
pandemic, but vaccination will likely you the coronavirus. Instead, it will prime VISIT WWW.COVIDSAFEGA.ORG.

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