New CDC guidelines say a full vaccination can travel again

NEW YORK (The Associated Press) – Add travel to vaccinated activities Americans can enjoy again, according to new U.S. directives released Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidelines to say that people who are fully vaccinated can travel within the United States without undergoing a coronavirus test or going into quarantine afterward.

Previously, the agency warned against unnecessary travel even for people who have been vaccinated, but has indicated that it will update its guidance as more people get vaccinated and evidence mount about the protection provided by the shots.

“Every day you get more data, and it changes your guidelines based on the data that exists,” said Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska’s School of Public Health.

Khan said the update enhances the safety and efficacy of vaccines, which is another incentive for people to get vaccinated.

According to the CDC, nearly 100 million people in the United States – or about 30% of the population – have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A person is considered to have been fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of the vaccine.

Unvaccinated persons It is still advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

The new directive says:

Fully vaccinated people can travel within the United States, without testing or quarantine for the Coronavirus. The agency says people should wear a mask, social distance, and avoid crowding.

– For international travel, The agency says that people who have been vaccinated do not need to get tested for COVID-19 before departure, although some destinations may require it.

Vaccinated people must still have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to the United States, and be tested three to five days after they return. They do not need to be quarantined. The agency indicated the possibility of introducing viral variants and differences in vaccine coverage around the world, as a result of cautious directions on travel abroad.

The CDC cited recent research on vaccines’ realistic effects for its updated guidelines. The agency had already said that fully vaccinated people could visit With each other indoors without wearing masks or social distancing. She also said that vaccinated people could visit unvaccinated people from one household under similar conditions, as long as unvaccinated individuals are at risk of developing severe disease if they become infected.

The United States began rolling out the vaccine in mid-December. The first vaccinations – from Pfizer and Moderna – require two doses a few weeks apart. A one-shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson was given the green light by regulators at the end of February.

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The Associated Press’s Department of Health and Science is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Education. AP is solely responsible for all content.