Sunrise Senior Living remains prepared to keep our residents, families, and team members safe and informed with the most current information regarding COVID-19 and the Delta variant. We firmly believe that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective method to combat the spread of this deadly virus. In addition to providing the COVID-19 vaccine to our residents and team members, our infection control protocols remain in place.
Our communities are working diligently to ensure that having a fully vaccinated workforce, subject to applicable laws and our policies, is at the forefront of our priorities. Our team members will continue to always wear masks and visitors will be required to wear masks in community common areas. We also strongly encourage continued masking in all areas of our communities, and otherwise complying with applicable guidelines, even for those who are vaccinated, in order to maximize safety in response to the new variants of COVID-19.
For those seeking additional information regarding COVID-19 vaccination, including its effectiveness and safety, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided a valuable fact sheet regarding COVID-19 and its variants, explaining how viruses can mutate and spread.
The CDC has provided further details on vaccines and COVID-19 variants:
- Viruses constantly mutate, resulting in variants. Some new variants emerge and disappear, while other variants live on and spread.
- Numerous variants of COVID-19 currently exist globally, including the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.
- The Delta variant accounts for more than 90% of current COVID-19 infections according to current CDC data.
- The Delta variant spreads more efficiently than previous strains and may cause more severe infections, particularly in non-vaccinated individuals.
- While vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19, even those who are fully vaccinated may experience breakthrough infections due to the Delta variant. Infections are typically milder in vaccinated individuals.
- Although those who are fully vaccinated are better protected against COVID-19 illness, current research shows that those infected with the Delta variant may still carry and transmit the virus to others. Therefore, the CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people wear a face mask indoors, particularly where there is a substantial or high rate of transmission of the virus.
- The COVID-19 vaccine is effective in supporting the body in creating antibodies and immune cells that respond against variants, such as Delta.
- Getting vaccinated also helps to prevent against the development of new variant strains—increased numbers of vaccinated people means less transmission of the virus and fewer opportunities for the virus to replicate and possibly mutate into another variant.
- Even for those who have recovered from COVID-19, the CDC’s official guidance provides evidence that a vaccine provides more immunity and may also protect against future variants.
We are committed to remaining vigilant in providing the COVID-19 vaccine to our residents and team members, while following the guidance of federal, state, and local health authorities. Taking these responsible steps will help keep all of us safe and healthy. We hope that you will join us in these efforts as we look forward to continuing to work toward brighter days and a healthy future.