Dr. Richard Besser, the former acting director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently told the “Today” show what the new CDC guidelines for vaccinated people means for the rest of the country.
- “It gives us a cautious step forward and an emotional release in the sense that we truly are on the road out of this pandemic. … Getting those two doses of vaccine, being fully vaccinated, now knowing they can get together with other people, that’s a huge, huge emotional release and lift.”
Besser said he expects the CDC will revise its plans for travel and hanging out in outdoor spaces for people who are fully vaccinated, too.
- “One of the concerns is that still across the nation, the percentage of people who are fully vaccinated is very low. We’re seeing a lot of states remove restrictions that really need stay in place … that’s very concerning,” he said.
Flashback
The CDC released guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals on Monday, saying people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine can gather with low-risk people indoors.
People who are fully vaccinated — either by one shot of Johnson & Johnson or two shots of Pfizer and Moderna — can safely gather with small groups from other households without masking up or socially distancing, NBC News reports. And yes, this means two fully vaccinated people can hang out together, too.
- “For example, fully vaccinated grandparents can visit indoors with their unvaccinated healthy daughter and her healthy children without wearing masks or physical distancing, provided none of the unvaccinated family members are at risk of severe COVID-19,” the CDC wrote.