Every day, more of us across Washington are getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The really good news is that once you’re fully vaccinated, you can start doing some of the activities you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
However, we also need to be mindful that others are still at risk.
Think of it this way: If you’re fully vaccinated, the vaccine protects you from severe COVID-19 symptoms. To protect others, you still need to wear a mask, stay 6 feet (2 meters) apart, and avoid crowds and indoor spaces without open windows. That’s because we don’t know enough yet about whether the vaccine prevents the spread of COVID-19 from one person to another.
What does “fully vaccinated” mean?
You are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after you get your second shot if you had to get two doses (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or two weeks after you get a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen).
Once you’re fully vaccinated, you:
Can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without physical distancing or wearing masks in private settings. Masks are still required in all public settings regardless of vaccination status.
Can visit with people who haven’t been vaccinated and are from one other household who are all at low risk for severe COVID-19 illness – indoors without physical distancing and wearing masks.
Can travel domestically without a pre- or post-travel test. And you don’t need to quarantine.
Do not need to quarantine or get tested after being exposed to someone with COVID-19 if you have no symptoms.
Even if you’re fully vaccinated, you should still:
- Wear a well-fitted mask and physically distance in any public space.
- Avoid medium or large gatherings.
- Wear masks, stay 6 feet (2 meters) apart, and keep gatherings small and outdoors (or indoors with the windows open) when you are visiting with people from multiple households or visiting with people who are not vaccinated and are at a risk of severe COVID-19 illness.
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- Follow guidance from your employer, school, or place of residence.
- Follow CDC and health department travel recommendations.