Patients Are Confused Over What’s ‘OK’ After the COVID-19 Shot. Set Them Straight

With more American receiving the COVID-19 vaccine every day, confusion is bubbling up over what “safe behavior” means post-shot. Are masks still advised? What about social distancing and quarantine procedures? Recognizing the potential for misinformation to cause a setback in our fight against the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance on appropriate safety standards for people who have been vaccinated and those around them. Among the highlights are the revelation that people who have been vaccinated can interact mask-free, even indoors, as long as the other people they’re with have also been vaccinated. When engaging with people who have not been vaccinated, both parties should continue to wear a mask—unless the nonvaccinated parties are considered low-risk. As of this writing, only about 9% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, so it’s essential that patients understand the implications of dropping their guard in regard to safety practices. They’ll be looking to you for answers, so it might be advisable to read the full CDC guidance here.