(RxWiki News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As the pandemic has dragged on for the past year, most people have been wondering when things can get back to normal. For people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, "normal" is likely to feel a lot closer than it recently has.
But the CDC urged everyone to continue to exercise caution because the pandemic isn't over yet.
“We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky in a press release. “There are some activities that fully vaccinated people can begin to resume now in their own homes. Everyone — even those who are vaccinated — should continue with all mitigation strategies when in public settings. As the science evolves and more people get vaccinated, we will continue to provide more guidance to help fully vaccinated people safely resume more activities.”
According to the CDC, these are some things fully vaccinated people can do:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people inside without masks or social distancing.
- Visit unvaccinated people from one household other than your own without masks or staying six feet apart — if no one is at high risk for severe COVID-19.
- Skip testing and quarantine if you show no symptoms after coming into contact with someone who had COVID-19.
Keep in mind that you are not considered "fully" vaccinated until two weeks after you have received the last required dose of the vaccine.
These are small steps toward normalcy, but the CDC said vaccinated people should still maintain all precautions in public:
- Avoid large or medium in-person gatherings.
- Wear a mask that fits well.
- Maintain social distance from those who are not in your household.
- Follow health guidance from health officials and employers.
- Get tested for COVID-19 if you experience symptoms.
These measure protect vaccinated people and the general public, the CDC noted. The agency said it will continue to update this guidance as more vaccines are administered and case numbers change.
Vaccinated or not, ask your health care provider about precautions you should take to protect your health.
