New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is a small risk that people who have been vaccinated can still become infected with asymptomatic disease and transmit it those who have not been vaccinated.
An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they receive the final dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This is one shot if they received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or the second shot if they received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
But fully vaccinated people without symptoms can skip quarantine or testing that would otherwise be required following a known exposure to someone infected with COVID-19.
“Fully vaccinated employees of non-healthcare congregate settings and other high-density workplaces (e.g., meat and poultry processing and manufacturing plants) with no COVID-like symptoms do not need to quarantine following an exposure,” CDC says, adding that testing and routine screening programs are still recommended for the workplace.
CDC says those who are fully vaccinated can also visit with one another indoors without masks or social distancing. Fully vaccinated individuals can also visit indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without masks or social distancing as long no one from the unvaccinated household is at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
CDC urges everyone – including those who are fully vaccinated – to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing outside the home. They should continue to avoid medium- and large-sized gatherings.
Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested as soon as possible.
This diagram from the CDC demonstrates their recommendations regarding visits between fully vaccinated people and unvaccinated people:
