NBC News – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] announced that individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks or socially distance inside or outside in most situations.
The update comes more than a year after the CDC issued guidelines recommending that Americans wear a mask to protect against the virus.
A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the last dose is administered. That gives the immune system enough time to create antibodies to combat the virus. So far, more than 35% of the United States has been fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.
There are a few exceptions to the new guidelines. People with compromised immune systems should talk to their doctors about protective measures. Fully vaccinated people may also still be asked to wear masks in hospitals or other healthcare settings.
The CDC said unvaccinated people should still wear masks.
While the vaccines work well, a small percentage of fully vaccinated people in the U.S. have still tested positive for COVID-19. Those cases are generally mild.
Why? If everyone without a mask is vaccinated, and my mask is for THEIR protection, why does it matter?
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