Once fully vaccinated, you can gather indoors with others provided no one amongst you is susceptible to developing severe COVID-19 illness. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a directive on March 2, stripping off some earlier restrictions thanks to the vaccination drive currently ongoing in various countries.
CDC cautioned against misconstruing the vaccine for the cure for the virus adding the jab is just to prevent those who could potentially be infected from developing a serious illness.
It notes: ‘‘COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.’’
The body further noted the virus is still being studied but once individuals get inoculated, there are certain restrictions that can be lifted off their shoulders.
‘‘After you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces until we know more,’’ CDC stated.
The changes
Some of the changes the research body has proposed for those who have received full package of the jab include: Gathering indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a facemask, and gathering indoors with close family members who live in same house without face mask provided no one amongst them is susceptible to severe illness. There is also no need for testing in case one has come into contact with a case unless there are symptoms.
However, the changes do not affect correctional facilities or any other areas prone to dangers of possible spread of the virus. The safety measures must continue being observed.
What does not change?
When one is vaccinated, CDC still encourages observation of social distancing wearing of facemasks and proper handwashing.
One is expected to wear the masks and keep distance while in public, congregating with people where at least one person is staying in another home, visiting with unvaccinated per[1]sons and so on. When in public, persons who have received the jab should still avoid overcrowded places, observe health precautions while travelling or in a workplace.
Disconnect
The researcher argues that it has come to the conclusion that the vaccines currently being pursued in the market prevent the spread of the disease but is yet to arrive at a formula in which it prevents severe illness. It stated: ‘‘We know that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. We’re still learning how effective the vaccines are against variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Early data show the vaccines may work against some variants but could be less effective against others.’’