Which one

Edwards says that the number of people who have experienced blood clots after being vaccinated in the United States so far is lower than what would be expected in the everyday population. Still, the CDC is continually looking at these rates to identify any signal for a reaction that might be associated with a vaccine.

Though any long-term effects of the vaccines are not yet known, Edwards says that she and the CDC are being vigilant in investigating any potential problems as they arise. The optimism that came with the approval of COVID vaccines in late was tempered by the emergence of several coronavirus variants that had mutated to be more contagious, deadlier, and potentially able to evade the vaccines.

But the data so far suggest that currently available vaccines work well against the variants. Chen says that those who are vaccinated and later infected with one of the concerning variants are still unlikely to be hospitalized. Though there is little real-world data on how the vaccines work against the B. Notably, none of the vaccinated people, who were generally low-risk for severe COVID to begin with, were hospitalized or died.

The World Health Organization says that the vaccines are likely to provide at least some protection against each of the variants because they prompt a broad immune response beyond just targeting the spike protein that is the focus of the vaccines. They are also developing variant-specific vaccines targeting the B. Edwards would not be surprised if it turns out that people need to continue to get COVID booster shots as additional variants emerge.

But it is still a race between vaccination and variants. The key to ending the pandemic is getting vaccines administered to people across the globe. Experts agree that getting a booster too soon can reduce the benefit. Timing matters because the immune system gradually builds layers of defenses over months, and letting that response mature improves the chances another, later dose will provide even stronger protection. It means a booster of a different brand from your original vaccination.

That gives flexibility in situations such as nursing homes where only one type of booster might be brought in. It also gives people at risk of a rare side effect linked to one kind of vaccine the option of switching to a different shot. Many of the meditation techniques listed in this article could be considered spiritual meditation. Examples include:. Spiritual meditation can be practiced at home or in a place of worship.

This practice is beneficial for those who seek spiritual growth and a deeper connection to a higher power or spiritual force. For example, you can focus on something internal, like your breath, or you can bring in external influences to help focus your attention. This practice may be simple in theory, but it can be difficult for beginners to hold their focus for longer than a few minutes at first.

As the name suggests, this practice is ideal for anyone who wants to sharpen their focus and attention. Although most people think of yoga when they hear movement meditation , this practice may include:.

This is an active form of meditation where the movement guides you into a deeper connection with your body and the present moment. Movement meditation is good for people who find peace in action and want to develop body awareness.

Mantra meditation is prominent in many teachings, including Hindu and Buddhist traditions. This type of meditation uses a repetitive sound to clear the mind. Your mantra can be spoken loudly or quietly. This allows you to experience deeper levels of awareness. Some people enjoy mantra meditation because they find it easier to focus on a word than on their breath. Others enjoy feeling the vibration of the sound in their body. TM was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and refers to a specific practice designed to quiet the mind and induce a state of calm and peace.

It involves the use of mantra and is best taught by a certified TM practitioner. Also known as body scan meditation , progressive relaxation is a practice aimed at reducing tension in the body and promoting relaxation. Oftentimes, this form of meditation involves slowly tightening and relaxing one muscle group at a time throughout the body.

In some cases, it may also encourage you to imagine a gentle wave flowing through your body to help release any tension. Loving-kindness meditation is used to strengthen feelings of compassion, kindness, and acceptance toward oneself and others. In addition, they have been used in studies for HIV and influenza. Some of the vaccines developed to fight the Ebola virus used this technology.

You also do not have to deal with possible side effects associated with the second dose of the other vaccines. Nearly all reports of this serious condition have been in adult women younger than age The risk of this adverse event is rare, occurring at a rate of about 7 per 1 million vaccinated women between 18 and 49 years old.

For women 50 years and older and men of all ages, this adverse event is even rarer. However, women younger than age 50 should be aware of this rare adverse event and should know that other COVID vaccines are available. Symptoms related to the rare blood clots are listed below.