Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first guidelines for vaccinated individuals. And they focus on visiting others.
A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last dose.
Although vaccinations are increasing, only 9.2% of the population iiss has fully vaccinated. More, this likely will increase substantially in the next few months.
For now, the CDC is asking vaccinated individuals to still where masks and follow other safety steps in public spaces. However, they loosened their guidelines for vaccinated individuals in other circumstances. They include:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart.
- Visit with unvaccinated people from one other household indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart if everyone in the other household is at low risk for severe disease.
- Refrain from quarantine and testing if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 after contact with someone who has the virus.
COVID-19 is a vaccine-preventable disease. And everyone 18 or older in the United States can now get a free vaccine regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
Vaccines are safe. And they are effective. Also, while some “breakthrough cases” do occur, vaccines substantially curb their symptoms.
Thus, schedule your shot today.
Illustration by Natasha Remarchuk