SALT-MEERSTAD – As the COVID-19 vaccination campaign progresses, and more Utahs are protected, people wonder when they can get together with loved ones who have already been vaccinated.
Some people over the age of 70 will soon be fully vaccinated, but is it too early to visit?
Dr. Emily Spivak, an associate professor of medicine in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah Health, said we still need to be careful about people who are vaccinated.
The positive side: the vaccines prevent the person from becoming symptomatically infected and getting serious illnesses. But researchers do not know how well the vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection, or the ability of people to spread the virus without knowing they are sick.
The best recommendation is therefore to adhere to local health guidelines.
“We must not change our behavior before a very large part of the population is vaccinated,” Spivak said.
We still need to avoid travel, mask and social distance, the doctor said. But Spivak also realizes that many of our loved ones have been extraordinarily isolated for almost a year, and she understands that some people will have the chance to get closer.
“If you are going to visit, it should not be between the first and second dose, and it should be at least two weeks or later after the second dose,” she said.
This will maximally protect the individual who has been vaccinated.
When meeting with someone recently vaccinated, Spivak said you should wear a mask, keep your distance, and meet outside if you can.
“Do not let your guard down completely,” she said. “Still use some of the basic softening strategies we talked about to prevent asymptomatic transmission – ideal for wearing masks.”
So far, it appears that the available vaccines are protected against variants of the virus that are emerging in the United States. Even if the vaccines reduce the effectiveness against the variants, they seem very protective against serious diseases and hospitalization.
When you were available for a vaccine, she said they all provide the protection we need.
“The faster we can get people to take it, no matter what vaccine you are offered, the faster we will get ‘herd immunity’, or enough of the protected population that we will delay its transmission. Virus and maybe again become normal, ”she said.
This is another aspect of this vaccination campaign that requires a lot of patience.
“I think we are moving in the right direction. I would like to see it spread faster and wider, but I am optimistic that we will get there,” Spivak said.
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Jed Boal