Daily Living Guidelines After COVID-19 Vaccination

Vaccination for COVID-19 is generally considered effective two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose vaccine series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. As life returns to a sense of normalcy, fully vaccinated individuals may wonder how to resume daily life.

Daily living guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals include the following:

• In most cases, regular activities can be resumed without wearing a mask or keeping a distance of six feet from others.
• Workplace, business, and government guidelines, which may still require wearing masks or distancing, should be followed.
• Masks should still be worn in health care settings and on planes, buses, and other forms of public transportation.
• Wearing masks and physical distancing should still be practiced at indoor gatherings with those who are not vaccinated.
• If symptoms of COVID-19 develop, testing is essential. A small chance of getting COVID-19 still exists even when fully vaccinated.
• Close interaction with others should be avoided if any symptoms of COVID-19 are experienced.
• Safety protocols and vaccination status should be discussed with family and friends before gathering, especially when elderly individuals or individuals with health issues may be in attendance.
• It’s important not to assume that others are vaccinated or that those who are vaccinated feel comfortable gathering with others yet.
• A medical professional should be consulted about specific guidelines if an underlying medical condition is present or if any medications that weaken the immune system are being taken.

COVID-19 vaccinations are an integral step toward the return to normalcy. They not only protect the vaccinated individual, but they also contribute to the development of sufficient community immunity, which will help end the COVID-19 pandemic.