The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has vaccinated vaccinated Americans to travel again, but some vaccinated travelers remain on the fence over making summer plans.
Is it finally safe to fly? How about uninfected family members or traveling with young children?
CNBC Global Traveler has asked medical professionals – all involved in the treatment or investigation of Covid-19 – to share their travel plans this summer. Here are their answers, in their words.
Summer travel is ‘unlikely’
“I’m unlikely to travel this summer … I’m worried that the proliferation of existing or new variants will provide the basis for a repeat of last summer’s Covid-19 boom pattern. I’m also worried that hesitant vaccines … or supply and demand issues will limit our ability to achieve herd immunity in the short term. ‘
“We just need to look as far as recent Covid-19 trainings in states like Canada or states like Michigan to see how problems with vaccine supply and variety distribution can lead to a dangerous boom with great impact.”
There is now nothing wrong with a wait-and-see approach.
Mark Cameron
Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine
“[My kids] is desperate to get out of the house this summer and get into a theme park, but it’s just not in our cards right now. I still think there will be relatively safe ways to travel this summer, and that there is nothing wrong with a wait-and-see approach right now. ‘
“It will be part of the plan to fully vaccinate, move our bubble with us and maintain the infection control measures we have kept safe so far, even if it is not mandatory.”
—Mark Cameron, epidemiologist and Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine
Only from one house to another – by car
“I am not traveling this summer except to travel by car from our place in New York City to our home in the country. Under normal circumstances we will travel a lot, also abroad. But this year we will do most of our spend time in our country, because it is much easier to avoid close contact than in the city or when traveling far. ‘
“If we do have to enter the city, we will do it by car. And if we get there, we will avoid public transportation, crowded places and indoor activities.”
This is not the time to stop ….
William Haseltine
President, Access Health International
“Getting vaccinated has not changed my behavior or my summer travel plans. There are new variants … that pop up regularly, and the vaccines will not be equally effective against everyone. That’s why I and everyone in my immediate family ‘the same precautions after vaccination as before we were vaccinated. This includes avoiding unnecessary travel.’
‘If we do want to visit public places, such as the post office or the grocery store, we wear N95 masks and a face shield, a combination that has been shown to be effective even in indoor health settings to significantly reduce the risk of infection. “
“If some members of our extended family are expected to travel during the summer, we will ask them to visit us at least two weeks after the trip – this includes the adults who are vaccinated and the children who are not. “
“This is not yet the time to abandon public health measures that could help us control the pandemic.”
—William Haseltine, former professor at Harvard Medical School and current president of Access Health International; author of “Variants! The Shape-Shifting Challenge of COVID-19”
Yes, but in the same region
‘The family trip we are undertaking this summer will be semi-local. We plan to come to the Jersey Shore [to rent] an efficient apartment … enjoy the hiking trails, the beach and the pool and bring our food. We will drive so we can easily bring everything. ‘
Dr Sharon Nachman said a consideration for her family’s summer travel plans to the Jersey Shore was “how easily we could get back in an emergency.”
Jon Lovette | Photographer’s choice RF | Getty Images
“By bringing our own food, we reduce the need to go to areas that are overcrowded or unsafe. By looking at places with different outdoor activities, we can get the fresh air and sunshine we have been missing for the past few months.”
“[My children] all have been vaccinated, but our grandchildren have not yet. With careful planning, we plan to hang out and play with them this summer. ‘
-Dr. Sharon Nachman, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Children at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital
Travel plans are undecided
“I have no concrete plans yet. I live in California, and I may decide to visit the local destinations within driving distance with my husband for a few days. We may also decide to fly to Hawaii. Hawaii needs testing before “Departure and arrival. My husband and I are well grown and have both now been vaccinated, and that’s partly why we’re comfortable with the idea of considering domestic travel at this stage. We will definitely protect and wear eye protection when traveling.”
Dr Supriya Narasimhan said she wanted to book a business class ticket because ‘the empty middle seat no longer exists, flight operators fly less, and many are quite full.’
Nicolas Economou | NurPhoto | Getty Images
“International travel is a very different consideration. We would like to visit family in India in the summer because we have not seen them in the last 18 months, but India is experiencing a boom. … people are not reliable on flights and the era is not of empty middle seats [in the] in the past, therefore, there is a very high risk of contracting Covid during travel, which is made more complicated by the emergence of new variants. ‘
“According to my institution, Covid is rare after vaccination, and we have not yet seen a serious case after vaccination. I trust our vaccinations, but I will do my part to lower my risk even further by diligently masking others.”
-Dr. Supriya Narasimhan, Head of Infectious Diseases at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Definitely travel, but only domestically
“My wife and I will travel by plane to visit family members on the East Coast. We will wear masks and be aware of the social distance in the terminal as well as on board.”
“My wife and I have been completely vaccinated, as has the family we are going to visit. The vaccination of the vaccine and the impact on state orders before and after the trip and quarantines after the trip [were] of cardinal importance to our plans. If there were still quarantine requirements, we would have delayed the journey until it was lifted – not because of the fear of contamination, but simply because of the practical implications. “
Dr Charles Bailey said he plans to clean surfaces during his flight, including seat arms and control panels, tray table and a lip chair.
Craig Hastings | Moment | Getty Images
‘If we had included young children who had not yet been fully vaccinated in our travel plans, we would have considered the CDC recommendation for pre- and post-travel testing, as well as possible implications of a quarantine period after the trip regarding return to -date. Determining any requirement or expectation of the schools to which they would return in the fall would also have been a reasonable idea. ‘
-Dr. Charles Bailey, Medical Director for the Prevention of Infections in Providence St. Joseph Hospital and Providence Mission Hospital
Going abroad this summer
“Like many Americans, my family also plans to travel this summer. This summer, four of our family members want to travel to Lima, Peru, and discover the many pleasures in this country, including the historic Machu Picchu. Seventy-two hours before we get on the plane, we get a PCR Covid-19 test to protect ourselves and others. ‘
“There is expected to be more pressure on the airport and mass transit than in the past year. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that all travelers be vaccinated. As healthcare providers, my wife and I are both fully vaccinated, and we [adult] children will be vaccinated before our travel activities. ‘
“It is important before making arrangements to a destination you are investigating … the infection rate … should be less than 5%.”
“Data can change quickly, and it’s important to follow current local government guidelines and recommendations.”
-Dr. Ramon Tallaj, Chairman of the Somos Community Council in New York Care
Editor’s note: Peru is currently under a level 4 Covid travel advice by the CDC. According to the CDC’s website, travelers should avoid traveling to Peru.