The CDC says, for example, that people who have been fully vaccinated – two weeks outside of their second vaccination of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines or their first ingestion of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – can mingle indiscriminately with others who have also been fully vaccinated. But they can not get along without a mask indoors with more than one other non-vaccinated household. Or with someone at increased risk for serious diseases due to the virus.
Check here and here the CDC guidelines and the Massachusetts guidelines for the fully vaccinated – a group that now covers nearly 2 million people in the Bay State.
To get a better sense of how the fully vaccinated should act, we asked a group of experts what they feel comfortable and uncomfortable to do now that they have gotten their shots. They are still cautious. Here’s what they said:
Dr. Howard Koh, professor at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, and former U.S. health assistant and public health commissioner in Massachusetts:
“I will reach full vaccination status within a week. As the University and the school are still closed, professors like me still do all the work online – teaching, lecturing, leading research teams and attending meetings. When I wear a mask, I feel comfortable coming along with small gatherings of my immediate family – most of whom are fully vaccinated or on their way. And it would be great to have a restaurant meal outside again soon. ”
“But I will personally wait for the immunity of the flock before resuming activities that include greater social functions, going to theaters or flying.”
Dr Helen Boucher, Head of the Infectious Diseases Division at Tufts Medical Center:
‘I am very grateful for the gift that science has given us in the form of COVID vaccines, but I am concerned about the unacceptable number of infections, as well as the increase in circulating variants (especially the B.1.1.7 strain), in our state today. We still need to work to spread COVID-19 and vaccinate more individuals. ”
‘Personally, I feel so happy that I am fully vaccinated and I am comfortable visiting my fully vaccinated mother-in-law and father-in-law and taking another vaccinated couple home with us. I recently returned to church while wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance. I look forward to eating outdoors, but am not ready to eat indoors. Major events such as parties and travel by plane have also not been planned yet due to the high infection rate in our state. Like so many of my colleagues in infectious diseases, I was at work in the hospital through the pandemic and I use standard precautions in the form of mask and eye protection for all patient care. ”
Dr. Megan L. Ranney, an emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital and director of the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health:
‘I have been fully vaccinated since mid-January and I will say that what I do comfortably increases in proportion to the number of people around me who have also been fully vaccinated. Now my parents have been vaccinated so I can go to their home, and even though my children have not been vaccinated yet because I have a low risk, I bring them along. So I spent Easter at my parents’ house. ”
“I will get on a plane myself at this point now that I am fully vaccinated, but I will not bring my family with me because my husband and children are not vaccinated.”
“As the number of people in my social circle who have been fully vaccinated increases, the number of things that I think are safe to do with it increases. Just the last few weeks I have had a personal working meeting with other people who I think have been vaccinated, and this was the first time I did it in 13 months. ‘
“There are some other things I do not do. Eating indoors at restaurants is one. While these vaccines are great, they are not 100 percent. To be somewhere indoors with the current COVID rate it is and to be there without a mask on – it’s just not worth it. ”
Dr. David Hamer, an infectious disease expert at Boston University and a physician at Boston Medical Center
“Relative discomfort: riding on a busy elevator; ride for longer than 15-20 minutes in a crowded city bus or subway, unless everyone on board complies with the use of mask; and take domestic flights of medium length (1-5 hours). ”
With great fear: long-haul flights (more than 5 hours); eat in an overcrowded, poorly ventilated restaurant; attending a large party indoors (more than eight people, especially if their vaccination status is unknown); to attend an indoor sporting event. ”
‘I feel comfortable with short journeys by public transport (I take the number 1 bus to work since March 2020 (only three to eight times a month instead of 20 plus), but it was generally empty until recently; outdoors “a dehydrated movie theater with universal mask use; and a small gathering with friends I know has been vaccinated or extremely careful with their social contact.”
Dr Paul Sax, Clinical Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
Vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 across the spectrum – serious illnesses, mild illnesses, even asymptomatic infections. As a result, I am much more comfortable traveling in an airplane (where ventilation is actually pretty good), as well as a train (the same). I also agree with the CDC that small group gatherings that include other vaccines are fairly safe, and because I felt comfortable eating outside in a restaurant last year, it feels even better with the vaccinations!
‘The higher risk activities will have to wait for a decrease in the number of cases – I mean especially to eat indoors, go to pubs and exercise in gyms. Still not eager to do any of these things. ”
‘On a personal level, I play in a regular poker game. (The interests are very low.) We look forward to a time when the group is fully vaccinated! For now, we will continue to play each other online. ”
The answers have been modified to conform to Globe style. Jeremiah Manion of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
Martin Finucane can be reached at [email protected].