COVID- 19 Vaccine Protection In People Who are Immunocompromised
According to the CDC as of May 13, 2021, fully vaccinated people (2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine) no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
The CDC has put together a guide for choosing safer activities for people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.
However, if you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system the CDC says you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.
At this time, there are limited data on vaccine protection in people who are immunocompromised. People with immunocompromising conditions, including those taking immunosuppressive medications (for instance drugs, such as mycophenolate and rituximab, to suppress rejection of transplanted organs or to treat rheumatologic conditions), should discuss the need for personal protective measures with their healthcare provider after vaccination.
What You Should Keep Doing
For now, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:
You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses.
If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested 3 days before travel by air into the United States (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.
You should still watch out for 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 home and away from others.
People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss their activities. They may need to keep taking all precautions to prevent COVID-19.
Per CDC guidance, masks continue to be required to be worn by all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in the following settings:
Health care settings, including but not limited to hospitals, long-term care facilities, and doctors’ offices
Correctional facilities
Homeless shelters
Public transportation, including but not limited to buses, trains, and planes and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
