I’ve Been Vaccinated, Now What?

Most people are aware that vaccinations are believed to be the key to getting the COVID-19 pandemic under control.. There is confusion and questions regarding lifestyle and behavior after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. People want to know whether they still need to quarantine after they are vaccinated or if being vaccinated means they can return to a pre-COVID lifestyle. While getting vaccinated makes you much less likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, you still need to take some precautions until more of the population can be vaccinated. Read on to find out more.

Do I need a second shot?
Right now, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require two doses and a person is not considered fully vaccinated until the second dose is received. The more recent Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose.

Can I stop wearing my mask?
No. While the vaccines are believed to greatly reduce your chances of developing a serious illness if you are exposed to COVID-19, people can potentially continue to transmit the coronavirus even after being vaccinated. There are some indications that vaccination decreases even the possibility of the asymptomatic carrier. This asymptomatic carrier state is when you get the infection, can spread it to others, but the infection does not get you sick. These are just initial data, and more certain data and studies need to be undertaken, so for now, continue to wear a mask to protect others till we have more data about this.

Do I need to continue social distancing?
Yes. Just like masks, we are social distancing to protect others, as well as ourselves. Since vaccines have not rolled out to the general population, social distancing remains an important element of slowing the spread of COVID-19. We just don’t know enough about whether vaccinated individuals can become asymptomatic carriers and infect others without getting sick themselves. We do know that this issue is being closely studied by the CDC and we look forward to getting guidance from the CDC in the near future.

How long does it take for the vaccines to become effective?
The specifics differ according to which vaccine you take, but the vaccines are expected to be fully functioning three to four weeks after the second dose.

If I am exposed to COVID-19 after being vaccinated, do I need to quarantine?
If you are exposed to COVID-19 after the waiting period applicable to your vaccination type (one or two doses), you do not need to self-quarantine after being exposed to a person who is positive for COVID-19. However, this only applies to the first 90 days after your second dose. While the expectation is that the vaccines will provide extended protection, the current guidelines only extend to 90 days.

If I develop COVID-19 symptoms after getting a vaccine, do I need to quarantine?
Yes. Keep in mind that no vaccine is 100% effective. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 after getting your vaccine, you still need to quarantine until you recover from the virus.

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This post was written by CJ Urgent Care of NJ