What to Do If You鈥檙e Fully Vaccinated For COVID-19
Updated May 19, 2021
Now that you鈥檙e fully vaccinated,听(which means that you听received听both doses of the vaccine from听Moderna听or Pfizer-BioNTech or the single Johnson & Johnson jab听at least two weeks ago),听you听no听longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in听most听settings,听excluding听public transportation (including airplanes and buses), hospitals and nursing homes,听and听unless听federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, local businesses or workplaces indicate otherwise,听according to听.听In keeping with this recent health policy change,听听is听lifting听most听pandemic-related capacity restrictions听and waving听mask mandates outdoors for fully听vaccinated people,听except in certain crowded settings and venues.听听
But听don鈥檛 throw away your mask yet,听cautions听Roy M. Gulick, MD,听Rochelle听Belfer听Professor in Medicine, Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases.听鈥淲e听know that even with the best COVID-19 vaccines, 5% of vaccinated people can still catch the virus, although almost always with no symptoms or just mild illness,鈥 Dr. Gulick says. 鈥淓merging data suggest that the vaccine reduces both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection听(viral carriage) by up to 90%, which leaves a small (5%-10%) chance of transmitting or acquiring infection,鈥 he says.听Plus, he adds, 鈥淪ome of the newer viral variants are less susceptible to the vaccine-generated immune responses.鈥
The CDC urges听fully vaccinated people听to听continue wearing听a听mask in correctional facilities and homeless shelters, while still recommending听听for unvaccinated people.听It also suggests that people with immunocompromising conditions, including those taking immunosuppressive medications (for instance drugs, such as mycophenolate and rituximab, to suppress rejection of transplanted organs or to treat rheumatologic conditions), speak with their healthcare provider about the need for additional protective measures after vaccination.听
Although听being听fully vaccinated听allows you to听resume听most听activities听without wearing a mask or maintaining physical distance,听keep in mind听that听the virus听is still spreading.听With听37% of听the听U.S.听fully vaccinated and听nearly听half听of the population听having听received at least one dose听of a COVID-19 vaccine,听the country is听far from听the听70% to 85%听it听needs听to achieve听herd immunity and stop听the disease from spreading.听
What鈥檚 more, no one knows how long vaccine-provided immunity lasts. 鈥淓merging data suggest that up to 90% of people who receive vaccines听remain听protected up to six months later,鈥 Dr. Gulick says. 鈥淭he original vaccine studies will continue for two years, so we will have more up-to-date and longer data in the future.鈥.听
Meanwhile,听听gives听fully vaccinated people听a green light to, among other things,听resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where instructed otherwise;听and to resume听domestic听and international听travel听without testing (unless required by local, state, or territorial health authorities听or their destination)听or听undergoing听self-quarantine.听
You may also schedule long overdue doctor and dentist appointments, although you may want to postpone your mammogram for four to six weeks after you are fully听vaccinated, since the normal underarm swelling following vaccination could cause a false reading.听听
Finally,听keep your vaccine record card safe.听You may need it as听, work, or attend large events. It will indicate which vaccine you received, and when you received it, which you鈥檒l need to know should you require a booster dose. We don't know how long immunity from the vaccines will last, and though they should provide some protection against the current variants, booster shots may be necessary if immunity wears off or fails to protect against future strains.听
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available to our patients.听Sign up for Connect today听to schedule your vaccination. Review the latest on听COVID-19 vaccines.