By the time you read this, most of your health care providers, including neurologists like me, will have already received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and many of you over the age of 65 will likely have as well. The success of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines has exceeded our most optimistic expectations: Clinical studies show the two-dose vaccines are nearly 95 percent effective, and their safety profiles are equally impressive.

That is why you may have seen public figures like CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, our cover subject, and world leaders like President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth II filmed as they received the vaccine. It's the reason Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser in the new administration and the country's most recognized immunologist, said as he waited for his inoculation: “I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine, and I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so we can have a veil of protection over this country that would end this pandemic.”

That sentiment is shared by many experts at the American Academy of Neurology regarding the care of patients with neurologic conditions like yours or those of the people you care for. “These vaccines are not made from a live or attenuated virus, and there is no evidence that I've seen that they will be contraindicated in any patient with a neurologic disorder,” Joseph R. Berger, MD, FAAN, professor of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, told Neurology Today (the publication our physician members read). Be sure to speak with your neurologist if you are on immunosuppressive medication or have any questions about your condition in relation to the vaccine.

While the distribution timelines and criteria vary, many states have now entered phase 1B and rolled out appointments to those who qualify by age or who are considered essential workers. The impact of the vaccine extends beyond disease prevention. For the first time after nearly a year of catastrophic illness and tragic loss, we have begun to regain our hope. To me that means, above all else, an end to the death and suffering brought on by this virus. It also means that I can soon visit my family, hug my friends and relatives again, and attend meetings with my colleagues. We all look forward to returning to public venues, sports and entertainment events, and social gatherings.

Participating in social activities is one of the main contributors to brain health—along with keeping the brain stimulated and choosing the most nutritious diet—that people can control, as Dr. Gupta tells us in this issue's cover story. Another is getting adequate sleep, a subject I discuss with many of my patients and one we underscore in our feature story “How to Sleep Better During the Pandemic.” Staying physically active—at least 150 minutes a week—rounds out Dr. Gupta's top five strategies to maintain brain health, which he covers in his new book, Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age. For inspiration, read our feature about Mark Macy, who competed in an elite adventure race despite his diagnosis of young-onset Alzheimer's disease, and the Speak Up essay by Kevin Cook, who had to give up surfing because of ataxia but discovered a new hobby that gets him outdoors and keeps him active.

As with every issue, your letters, pictures, and profiles bring us much joy, as I hope they do to fellow readers. Once you get your vaccine, please share your experience with us and let us know what a shot of hope means to you.

Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief