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CDC and State Revise Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York State have indicated that greater flexibility in private gatherings and travel may be available for individuals who have been fully vaccinated. It is important to note, however, that the Department of Health (DOH) has not yet changed its guidance for nursing homes, adult care facilities (ACFs), home care, and hospice providers. Thus, providers should continue to follow existing guidance, continuing to adhere to infection prevention practices and return to work after travel regardless of vaccination status. We will alert members when DOH changes guidance on these matters for these providers.

CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People

On March 8th, the CDC released Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People providing some flexibility for individuals outside of health care settings who have been fully vaccinated. These recommendations do not apply to fully vaccinated individuals in health care settings such as nursing homes or assisted living. For purposes of this guidance, an individual is “fully vaccinated” when at least two weeks have passed since their final dose of vaccine. For Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, this means that an individual is fully vaccinated for COVID-19 when two weeks have passed since the administration of their second dose. For Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, an individual is fully vaccinated when two weeks have passed since the administration of their single dose.

If you are fully vaccinated, you should continue to do the following:

  • Take steps to protect yourself and others in many situations. This includes wearing a mask, staying at least six feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. You should take these precautions whenever you are in public, gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household, or visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at heightened risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at heightened risk.
  • Avoid medium- or large-sized gatherings.
  • Delay domestic and international travel. (If you do travel, you must follow CDC and State recommendations and requirements.)
  • Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, particularly if you have been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
  • Follow any workplace guidance.

Fully vaccinated individuals in a private setting, such as a private home, may:

  • Gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.
  • Gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, provided none of the unvaccinated individuals or their household members are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
  • Refrain from quarantine and testing after exposure to COVID-19, provided the vaccinated individual remains asymptomatic. (Note: The CDC states that this guidance is not meant to apply to individuals in health care settings and further states that fully vaccinated individuals should continue to follow guidance issued by individual employers.)

New York State Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

During a recent COVID-19 briefing, Governor Cuomo announced that New York would be lifting the quarantine and COVID-19 testing restrictions for people who have been fully vaccinated and are within 90 days of their second inoculation. He stated that “domestic travelers are no longer required to quarantine or test out within 90 days of full vaccination.” If an individual is past 90 days from their second vaccination, they will still be required to quarantine and test out. He also stated that international travelers must continue to quarantine for 10 days. People who are not fully vaccinated must also continue to quarantine under the existing guidelines

Please note that while Governor Cuomo announced this during a COVID-19 briefing, updated written guidance has not yet been released, and providers should continue to follow existing guidance, continuing to adhere to infection prevention practices and return to work after travel regardless of vaccination status.

Contact: Sara Neitzel, sneitzel@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8835