Preventing COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of community spread by effectively preventing the COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death.

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Or, two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

The risk of spreading COVID-19 is minimal for fully vaccinated people, and the risk is reduced from fully vaccinated individuals to unvaccinated individuals. As a result, fully vaccinated people may resume outdoor activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. All persons, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face coverings in public indoor spaces.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), below are precautions you should still take even if you have been fully vaccinated:

• Wear a face mask on public transportation such as planes, buses, trains, and transportation hubs including airports and stations
• Follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses
• Be aware of symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay away from others.

These recommendations can help you make decisions after you are fully vaccinated. They are not intended for healthcare settings.

If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider since even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you should continue taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

Find a vaccine provider near you: http://vaccines.gov