New CDC Guidance for People Who Have Been Fully Vaccinated

The CDC recently released new guidance for individuals who have been fully vaccinated. Per the guidelines, individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the full dose of the vaccine, meaning two weeks after the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.

Those who have been fully vaccinated can now gather indoors with others who have been fully vaccinated without wearing masks. Additionally, people who have been fully vaccinated can gather indoors with unvaccinated individuals from one other household, unless anyone in that household has an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. According to an article from The New York Times, this means that many vaccinated grandparents can now visit their grandchildren, if they live nearby. The CDC still does not recommend unnecessary domestic or international travelling for any individuals. If an unvaccinated neighbor stops by, however, people should resume wearing masks and move the gathering outdoors. Lastly, people who have been fully vaccinated do not need to stay away from others or get tested if they have been around someone who has COVID-19, unless they develop symptoms or live in a group setting such as a group home or detention facility.

While in public or around other households, people who have been vaccinated should still take precautions, such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding crowds. For more information, see the full CDC guidelines for how to protect yourself and others once you’ve been fully vaccinated.

Photo credit: CDC