The CDC just released its guidelines for those who have been fully vaccinated.

For the purposes of this guidance, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen).”

The CDC has put out these guidelines for currently authorized vaccines for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These are the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen vaccines. 

These guidelines will also apply to vaccines that have been authorized by the World Health Organization (e.g., AstraZeneca/Oxford).

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/images/vaccine-injection.jpg
A woman getting vaccinated for whooping cough. (CDC)

The following guidelines apply to non-healthcare settings only.

Also, keep in mind, that they do not apply to federal properties which are still restricted and require mask at all time (except when in your private vehicle).

Persons That Are Fully Vaccinated can now:

  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing;
  • Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing;
  • Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in specific crowded settings and venues;
  • Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after trip or self-quarantine after travel;
  • Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States;
  • Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings;
  • Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic;
  • Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible.

CDC Guidelines State That for Now, Fully Vaccinated People Should Continue to:

  • Take precautions in indoor public settings by wearing a well-fitted mask;
  • Wear masks that fit snuggly when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease;
  • Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people from multiple households;
  • Avoid indoor large-sized in-person gatherings;
  • Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms;
  • Follow guidance issued by individual employers;
  • Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.”

So ultimately, even if you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC still wants you to wear a mask. This doesn’t make sense to me. Isn’t the vaccine suppose to significantly reduce the chances of people getting COVID and also passing it to others?

So Why Wear the Mask if This Is True?

Is it ultimately to make others around you feel better about themselves?