NEW YORK (AP) – Add trips to activities that vaccinated Americans can enjoy again, according to the new U.S. guidance released Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines to say that fully vaccinated people can travel to the United States without undergoing coronavirus testing or entering quarantine later.
Earlier, the agency had warned of unnecessary travel even for vaccinated people, but noted that it would update its guidelines as more people were vaccinated and tests were obtained on the protection offered by the shots.
“Every day you get more data and change your orientation based on existing data,” said Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health.
Khan said the upgrade enhances the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and is another incentive for people to get vaccinated.
According to the CDC, nearly 100 million people in the United States (approximately 30% of the population) have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. A person is considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine.
Unvaccinated people are advised to avoid unnecessary travel.
The new orientation says:
– Fully vaccinated people can travel to the United States without coronavirus testing or quarantine. According to the agency, people should wear a mask, stay away socially and avoid crowds.
– For international travel, the agency says vaccinated people do not need to take a COVID-19 test before leaving, although some destinations may require it.
– Vaccinated individuals should take a negative COVID-19 test before embarking on a flight to the United States and be tested 3 to 5 days after returning. They don’t need to be quarantined. The agency noted the possible introduction of virus variants and differences in vaccine coverage around the world for prudent guidance on overseas travel.
The CDC cited recent research on the real-world effects of vaccines for up-to-date guidance. The agency had already said that fully vaccinated people could visit the interior without wearing masks or distancing themselves socially. It was also said that vaccinated people could visit unvaccinated people from a single household under similar conditions, as long as unvaccinated people had a low risk of serious illness if they were infected.
The United States began its vaccine implementation in mid-December with. The first vaccines – from Pfizer and Moderna – require two separate doses a few weeks apart. In late February, regulators gave the green light to a unique Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.