Do fully vaccinated people still need quarantine after exposure to COVID-19?

People still have many doubts about the COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Frank McGeorge of Local 4 is working to answer as many as possible.

READING: More answers to COVID-19 questions

Since the vaccines began to be launched, thousands of viewers have sent questions specifically about the photos.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated their guidelines as they learn more about new vaccines and new strains. CDC recommendations can evolve as quickly as new information becomes available.

According to the most recent CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated people are not required to quarantine after exposure if they comply all following criteriaL

• They are fully vaccinated

• Within 3 months of receiving the last dose

• Has remained asymptomatic since exposure to COVID

On the surface, the three-month limit may seem bizarre, but the goal is to protect as many people as possible based on the imperfect information we have now. As we learn more, the guidelines will be revised.

Ads

The three-month period comes from estimates of how long protection lasts after a natural infection.

READING: CDC: When to quarantine

We don’t know exactly how long vaccines will protect people – it could be much longer than three months – but only time will tell. For now, the guidance is three months.

Participants in the original studies that were used to obtain emergency use authorization are more than three months away from their vaccinations, so follow-up data should be available soon about the duration of immunity.

One thing we know is that vaccines are preventing people from dying or becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 and that definitely makes it worthwhile.

MOST: Questions about coronavirus (COVID-19)? Ask Dr. McGeorge

Ads