Do we still need to disinfect areas now that we have the vaccine?

COVID-19 has changed the way we think about viruses. We're living through a pandemic, the likes of which none of us have ever seen. Businesses have closed, schools have closed and staying home has become a necessity; we've gotten used to wearing masks and social distancing, jobs have been lost, and people have died. We've all been waiting for a vaccine to come along that would offer us some freedom from the threat of coronavirus. The reality, of course, is that coronavirus isn't going to go away just because of a vaccine becomes available.

The recent news of COVID-19 vaccines sounds promising, but we should understand that proper sanitizing and disinfecting is necessary for the vaccine's success. The two pieces work hand-in-hand, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates regarding any virus. A vaccine is meant to prepare your body to fight infection if it is exposed, and proper cleaning and disinfecting help reduce your exposure, making them critical components toward the success of a vaccine. The goal is to avoid exposure in the first place.

The CDC offers guidelines about proper cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting for the flu and other viruses on their website and promotes the importance of keeping your home and facility sanitized to reduce the threat of germs and bacteria. A vaccine does not eliminate the need for proper cleaning and sanitizing. It is an added measure of protection for the population.

The first line of defense, according to the CDC, is proper cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting and avoiding going to work or school when you're sick. By taking these precautions, the vaccine might never need to do its job. In the CDC report about possible COVID-19 vaccines and how they work, the CDC states:

In the CDC report about possible COVID-19 vaccines and how they work, the CDC states:

"Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others." The CDC reinforces the concept of doing all we can to prevent sickness.

"Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others." The CDC reinforces the concept of doing all we can to prevent sickness.

One of the first concerns with a vaccine is that the public will begin to let their guard down, assuming they are protected if they get the vaccine. The CDC, in the same report mentioned above, points out that while there is promise in the upcoming vaccines, experts have no idea how effective they will be. This means that even when a vaccine is available, we must still be on guard and aware of our surroundings.