You can protect yourself, your household, and your community from severe illness from COVID-19. The best prevention is to get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are available for people 6 months of age and older, including pregnant and breastfeeding people. Also, avoid contact with anyone infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. And follow the recommended masking, handwashing, and quarantine precautions.

Vaccines help prevent COVID-19. They also reduce the severity of illness if you do get the virus. No vaccine is ever 100% effective in preventing any illness. But the COVID-19 vaccines work well and are safe. Talk with your doctor about your risks. And ask which vaccine may be best for you and your family.

COVID-19 vaccines are given as a shot (injection) into the muscle. Experts recommend the most current COVID-19 vaccines to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. Vaccine recommendations are based on age, time since the last dose, and, in some cases, the first vaccine received. Talk with your doctor about what vaccine is best for you and your family.

Know about the impact of COVID-19 in your area. Follow local instructions about being in public.

To prevent possible COVID-19 exposure, you may want to stay away from crowded areas and keep adequate space between yourself and others. Move events outdoors instead of inside, if possible. You are less likely to be infected with COVID-19 during outdoor activities because the virus does not build up in the air outdoors as much as it does indoors.

Follow your community's mask guidance. Wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask as advised.

Stay informed about COVID-19 travel guidelines in your area, such as mask requirements in public areas. Even if you are fully vaccinated, don't travel if you have COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.

Know when to get tested for COVID-19. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, test right away.

• Wash your hands often. Use soap and clean, running water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
• Stay informed about all safety instructions in your area.
• Be aware of high-touch public surfaces, such as doorknobs and handles, cabinet handles, and light switches. If you touch these surfaces, try touching them using a tissue or paper towel.
• If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Make sure it has at least 60% alcohol.
• Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you have clean hands.
• Don't kiss someone who is sick.
• If you need to cough or sneeze, do it into a tissue. Then throw the tissue into the trash. If you don't have tissues, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow.
• Clean frequently touched home surfaces often with disinfectant. This includes desk surfaces, printers, phones, kitchen counters, tables, fridge door handle, bathroom surfaces, and any soiled surface. Closely follow disinfectant label instructions.
• Make a plan for childcare, work, and ways to stay in touch with others. Know who will help you if you get sick.
• Wear a mask if advised. Masks can help protect you and others from COVID-19.

The risk of getting COVID-19 is lower after exposure if you are fully vaccinated. Vaccines also reduce the risk of getting severe disease if you get infected.

If you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19, follow these steps regardless of your vaccine status or if you've had a previous COVID-19 infection.

• Watch for symptoms of COVID-19. If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home away from others. If you have an emergency warning sign, like trouble breathing, seek emergency care now.
• Take extra precautions if you will be around people with a weak immune system or who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Consider delaying visits with them. If you need to be with them, stay at a distance and wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask.
• If you've had COVID-19 in the last 90 days and have been re-exposed, contact your doctor for advice. It's possible to get COVID-19 again. This is because of new variants of the virus.

Contact your doctor if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms. These can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Nasal congestion
• Trouble breathing
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea

Follow your doctor's specific instructions. If you are at risk of getting severe COVID-19 and being hospitalized, don't delay contacting your doctor. There are medicines and treatments that can be started to reduce serious COVID-19.

It's especially important to keep up on recommended vaccines for other illnesses. This is true if you're at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, the flu, or pneumonia. This includes older adults and those who have long-term (chronic) health conditions. Getting a yearly flu vaccine is advised for everyone 6 months old and older, with rare exceptions. Health experts advise the flu vaccine to protect you and others. COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines.