NEW YORK (AP) – Add trips to activities that vaccinated Americans can enjoy again, according to the new US guidance released Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have updated their guidelines to say that fully vaccinated people can travel within the United States without being tested for coronavirus or being quarantined later.
The agency had previously warned against unnecessary travel even for vaccinated people, but noted that it would update its guidelines as more people became vaccinated and evidence increased about the protection that vaccines provide.
“Every day you get more data and change your orientation based on the existing data,” said Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska School of Public Health.
Khan said the update reinforces the safety and efficacy of vaccines and is another incentive for people to be vaccinated.
According to the CDC, almost 100 million people in the United States – or about 30% of the population – received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last necessary dose of the vaccine.
Unvaccinated people are still advised to avoid unnecessary travel.
The new guideline says:
– Fully vaccinated people can travel within the United States without having a coronavirus test or being quarantined. People must still wear a mask, distance themselves socially and avoid crowds, says the agency.
– For international travel, the agency says that vaccinated people do not need to take the COVID-19 test before leaving, although some destinations may require it.
– Vaccinated persons must still obtain a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to the USA and taking the test 3 to 5 days after returning. They do not need to be quarantined. The agency noted the potential introduction of variants of the virus and differences in vaccine coverage worldwide for cautious guidance on trips abroad.
The CDC cited recent research on the effects of vaccines in the real world for its updated guidance. The agency had previously said that fully vaccinated people could visit each other indoors without wearing masks or social detachment. He also said that vaccinated people can visit unvaccinated people from a single home under similar conditions, as long as unvaccinated people have a low risk of serious illness if infected
The US began distributing the vaccine in mid-December with. The first vaccines – from Pfizer and Moderna – require two doses taken a few weeks apart. A single Johnson & Johnson vaccine received a green light from regulators in late February.
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