One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Pandemic Isn't Over: Adults Shouldn't Hug After One Gets COVID-19 Vaccine
A man and woman wearing gas masks embrace at their window during a daily 8 o'clock applause in support of medical workers in Nice, France on March 24, 2020. (Photo by VALERY HACHE / AFP) VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images
So you or your loved one finally got the COVID-19 vaccine and you want to know if you can ditch the mask...visit with family indoors...and, maybe even, hug!
With adults at or over the age of 65 now eligible to get the vaccine in California, it's tempting to think that newly vaccinated older adults can let go of social distancing rules.
Not so fast, says Dean A Blumberg, MD:
"We do feel that if you're vaccinated, you're less likely to transmit, but you could be completely asymptomatic and still serve as a source of transmission to others, even if you're vaccinated."
Data shows that the vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency-use authorization -- from manufacturers Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna -- have been highly effective in preventing serious illness from COVID-19. However, the clinical studies conducted so far still leave these open questions: How effective are the vaccines in preventing the spread of the virus? And... Can a vaccinated person still be contagious?
For now, Dr. Blumberg urged fully vaccinated adults to take as many precautions as possible when visiting loved ones.
Sponsored message
"Well, what we do know is this, that 90 percent of transmission that's occurring is occurring indoors. So if you can be with people outdoors, ideally, masking and social distancing, that's the way to do it. That's the safest way to interact with other people in person. Indoors is the worst way and especially indoors when you're not masking and social distancing."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
