The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleaned up vaccinated Americans to travel again, but some vaccinated travelers remain on the fence to make summer plans.
Is it safe to finally fly? What about visiting unvaccinated relatives or traveling with young children?
CNBC Global Traveler asked medical professionals (all of them involved in the treatment or research of Covid-19) to share their travel plans this summer. Here are his answers, in his own words.
Summer trips are “unlikely”
“It’s unlikely to travel this summer … I’m worried that the proliferation of variants, whether existing or new, is setting the stage for a repeat of Covid-19’s pattern of rises and flows last summer. I am concerned that vaccination hesitation … or supply and access problems will limit our ability to achieve herd immunity in the short term. ”
“We just have to look at the recent Covid-19 rises in countries like Canada or states like Michigan to see how vaccine supply problems and the spread of variants can cause a dangerous increase with a wide impact.”
At this point there is nothing wrong with approaching the wait.
Mark Cameron
Western Reserve University School of Medicine
“[My kids] we’re desperate to get out of the house and into a theme park this summer, but that’s not on our cards now. I still think there will be relatively safe ways to travel this summer and that there is nothing wrong with an approach waiting right now. “
“Vaccinating completely, moving our bubble with us and maintaining the infection control measures that have kept us safe so far, even if they are not required, would be part of the plan.”
—Mark Cameron, epidemiologist i associate professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Only from one house to another, by car
“I don’t travel this summer, except to travel by car from our place in New York City to our home in the country. Under normal circumstances, we would travel a lot, including abroad. But this year we will spend most of our time in our house, as it is much easier to avoid close contact than in the city or when traveling far away. “
“When we have to enter the city, we will do it by car. And when we arrive, we will avoid public transport, crowded places and covered activities.”
This is not yet the time to let go …
William Haseltine
President, Access Health International
“Vaccination did not change my behavior or my summer travel plans. There are new variants … that come up regularly and the vaccines will not be equally effective against all of them. That is why I and all the members of the my immediate family we take the same precautions after vaccination as before we were vaccinated. This includes avoiding unnecessary travel. “
“When we need to go to public places, such as the post office or grocery store, we wear N95 masks and a face shield, a combination that has been shown to be effective even in indoor healthcare environments to significantly reduce risk. of infection. “
“If some members of our extended family have to travel during the summer, we will ask them not to live with us until at least two weeks after the trip, including vaccinated adults and children who do not.”
“It’s not yet time to leave behind public health measures that can help us control the pandemic.”
—William Haseltine, a former professor at Harvard Medical School and current president of Access Health International; author of “Variants! The challenge of changing the shape of COVID-19”
Yes, but in the same region
“The family trip we’re doing this summer will be semi-local. We plan to get to the Jersey Shore [to rent] an efficient apartment … enjoy the hiking, the beach and the pool and you will take the food with us. We will drive so we can carry everything easily. “
Dr. Sharon Nachman said consideration of her family’s summer travel plans on the Jersey shore was “how easily we could return in an emergency.”
Jon Lovette | Photographer’s Choice RF | Getty Images
“By bringing our own food, we reduce the need to go to areas that may be crowded or unsafe. By looking at places that had various outdoor activities, we can get the fresh air and sun we were missing last months. “.
“[My children] all have been vaccinated, but our grandchildren have not. With careful planning, we plan to visit them and play with them this summer. “
—Dr. Sharon Nachman, Head of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital
Travel plans are undecided
“I don’t have any specific plans yet. I live in California and may decide to visit local destinations a short drive away with my husband for a few days to take a break. We may also decide to fly to Hawaii. Hawaii requires pre-departure testing. and the arrival. My husband and I are very adults and we are both vaccinated now, and that is why, in part, we are comfortable with the idea of considering national travel at this time. travel. “
For longer flights, Dr Supriya Narasimhan said she would consider booking a business class ticket because “the empty middle seat no longer exists, flight operators want fewer trips and many are quite full”.
Nicolas Economou | NurPhoto | Getty Images
“International travel is a totally different consideration. We would like to visit a family in India in the summer because we haven’t seen them in the last 18 months, but India is experiencing an increase. … People don’t mask it. reliably on flights and the era of half-empty seats is [in the] past, so hiring Covid during the trip is a very real risk, which is made more complex by the emergence of new variants. “
“According to the experience of my institution, Covid after vaccination is rare and we have still seen a serious case after vaccination. I trust our vaccines, but I will do my part to further reduce my risk by masking- I diligently when I am around others “.
—Dr. Supriya Narasimhan, head of infectious diseases at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Definitely traveling, but only nationally
“My wife and I will travel by plane to visit relatives on the east coast. We will wear masks and be aware of maintaining social distance throughout the terminal and on board.”
“Both my wife and I are completely vaccinated, as well as the family we will visit. The launch of the vaccine and the impact on the planned and post-trip tests and the post-trip quarantines required by the state [were] fundamental to our plans. If there were still quarantine requirements, we would have delayed travel until they were eliminated, not for fear of infection, but simply for practical implications. “
Dr. Charles Bailey said he plans to clean surfaces during the flight, including the seat arms and controls, the tray table and the “lip” of the seat pocket.
Craig Hastings | Moment | Getty Images
“If our travel plans had included young children who were not yet fully vaccinated, we would have considered the CDC’s recommendation for pre- and post-trip testing, as well as the possible implications of a post-trip quarantine period so “Returning to -School Dates. Finding any requirements or expectations from the schools they would return to in the fall would also have been a reasonable idea.”
—Dr. Charles Bailey, medical director of infection prevention at Providence St. Joseph and Providence Mission Hospital
Going abroad this summer
“Like many Americans, my family also plans to travel this summer. This summer, four members of our family would like to travel to Lima, Peru and take a trip to discover the many pleasures of this country, including the historic Machu Picchu. Seventy-two hours before boarding the plane we will do a Covid-19 PCR test to protect ourselves and others. ”
“The airport and mass traffic are expected to be more congested than last year. Therefore, it is recommended that all travelers be vaccinated. As health care providers, my wife and I are fully vaccinated and [adult] children will be vaccinated before our travel activities “.
“It’s important before making travel arrangements to any destination you investigate … the infectivity rate … should be less than 5%.”
“Data can change quickly and it is important to follow the guidelines and recommendations of current local authorities.”
—Dr. Ramon Tallaj, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Somos Community of New York Cure
Editor’s note: Peru is currently undergoing a level 4 Covid travel consultancy by CDC. According to the CDC website, travelers should avoid traveling to Peru.