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March 11, 2021 (Atlanta, GA) — Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new guidance for fully vaccinated people. This guidance addresses the fact that while the COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness from the virus, researchers and doctors are still learning about how it affects transmission of the virus to those who are not yet vaccinated.

Per the CDC, you are ‘fully vaccinated’ two weeks after your final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine–two weeks after your second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and two weeks after your first and only shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

Per the CDC, fully vaccinated people can:

  • Visit other fully vaccinated people in a private setting without wearing a mask or physically distancing (staying six feet apart).
  • Visit unvaccinated people from a single household who are all at low risk of severe COVID-19 while wearing a mask and physically distancing. 
    • Note that this includes visiting a household with children who are not vaccinated, so long as all children involved are at low risk of severe COVID-19.
    • If any one person in the household is at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, everyone present should wear a mask and physically distance.
  • Refrain from quarantining or getting a COVID-19 test after being exposed to someone with COVID-19, so long as they don’t show any symptoms.

To protect those who are not yet vaccinated, the CDC says that fully vaccinated people should:

  • Wear a mask and physically distance in public settings (e.g. gurdwaras, restaurants, and gyms).
  • Wear a mask and physically distance when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19.
  • Wear a mask and physically distance when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households.
  • Quarantine and get a COVID-19 test if they experience COVID-19 symptoms.

Until more at-risk people are vaccinated–and in order to protect everyone against COVID-19 variants–the CDC advises that fully vaccinated people should avoid:

  • Travelling unless it is absolutely necessary. Review the CDC’s most recent travel guidance for more information.
  • Attending or holding medium- or large-sized in-person gatherings (e.g. sporting events, concerts, festivals, conferences, parades, or weddings).

In addition to this new guidance, be sure to review the CDC’s guidance about safety in public settings (e.g. gurdwaras, restaurants, and gyms), and our summary of the CDC’s guidance for institutions like houses of worship. One year into the pandemic, continuing to abide by restrictive public health guidance is difficult. Adhering to these and other guidelines, however, will allow us to support those who are underserved and vulnerable, as is our responsibility. It remains critical that we each continue to make the best choices for the health and safety of all. 

Review and share this information for fully vaccinated people in graphic form on Facebook (English, Punjabi), Twitter (English, Punjabi), or Instagram (English, Punjabi). You can access our additional vaccine information–produced in consultation with the North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association (NASMDA), Sikh Family Center, and Jakara Movement–at thesikh.co/vaccine.

As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.

The Sikh Coalition, in collaboration with NASMDA, the Sikh Family Center, and the Jakara Movement, is working to ensure that all Sikh Americans have access to information and resources regarding vaccinations for COVID-19. While we are not a public health organization, we are pursuing this work so that we can all do our part to keep ourselves and our communities safe. Please visit our website for more information, email community@sikhcoalition.org with any questions about this work, and always consult your doctor with specific inquiries about your personal health.