Is it safe to visit grandparents after receiving the Covid vaccine?

Last week, more than 37 million people in the United States received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to a tally from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An additional 13 million people received their second dose, fully completing their Covid-19 vaccination series.

Since many are already immune to the virus, the questions are: When can we start thinking about visiting family or planning a social gathering? Getting vaccinated can ease the anxiety of going out, but even people who have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should still follow public health advice regarding wearing a properly fitted mask and social distancing.

“Fully vaccinated” means at least two weeks have passed since a person received the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or a dose of a single-dose vaccine.

NBC News asked vaccine experts what they would feel comfortable doing once fully immunized.

Is it safe to visit family?

Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the country’s leading public health advisers, told Savannah Guthrie on NBC’s “TODAY” that he was often asked if it was safe to meet without some of the measures. public health such as masking and social distancing.

“The answer, at the end of the day, will be yes,” he said in Thursday’s interview.

However, that is if everyone in the group is fully vaccinated. Fauci called for more caution if only one party received the vaccine, as people who have been vaccinated could potentially harbor the virus in their noses and pass it on to others.

“This is the reason why we say, until we have the overwhelming majority of people vaccinated, and the virus level is very low, if you are vaccinated, it would be safe to wear a mask,” he said. declared Fauci.

While we do not yet know how well the vaccine limits transmission, early data from Moderna and AstraZeneca suggests modest protection against asymptomatic infection, and therefore less ability to spread the virus.

“We don’t really know if [the vaccines] are able to prevent infection, which means you could get infected and unintentionally passed on to others, ”said William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. “This is something that we are still learning.”

While these vaccines are among the greatest scientific achievements Hanage has seen in his career, immediately returning to pre-pandemic life is not a good idea, he warned.

Like Fauci, Hanage agreed that if he and his older family members received the vaccine, he would feel safe hugging them – but only if both parties had completed their rounds of vaccines.

“One of the best things about the vaccine is that as it is rolled out to people who are older and more vulnerable to disease, it will be much easier to have contact with them,” Hanage said.

Dr Jay Varkey, associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University in Atlanta, said that although he has completed his round of vaccines and his parents are about to do the same, he would not feel safe. safety by giving them a hug only if community transmission rates are low. He added that if his older family members were essential workers, he would give him even more time.

“If my family members were on the move in the community as essential workers, having to work in factories or schools where they are mixed with many other people, many of whom are not vaccinated, I would delay a little longer. a long time, ”Varkey said.

Is it safe to assemble indoors?

Infectious disease experts also had differing opinions on whether they would feel safe gathering indoors with friends.

Dr Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF Health, suggested forming ‘bubbles of immunity’ with other limbs who have also been vaccinated. In the bubble, friends and family who are fully vaccinated can come together without masks or social distancing.

For example, Chin-Hong has a group of five to seven coworkers at work who have completed their rounds of vaccines and are eager to receive them for dinner. Within these bubbles, it is safe to congregate without masks and without social distancing.

“We wore masks before entering my house or my dinner space, but once inside I think I would feel comfortable with everyone taking off the masks, sitting around the table, watch a football game or listen to music, ”Chin-Hong told NBC News Thursday in a live Facebook“ Doc to Doc ”interview with senior medical correspondent Dr. John Torres. “These are all things that I put off for over a year, and I can’t wait to do it.”

Hanage urged a little more caution to congregate indoors without masks temporarily, until the virus becomes more under control in the community.

“We’re going to have to keep an eye out for this virus. It’s very sneaky, so be careful,” Hanage said. “If I was in this situation, I would keep my mask on for now, but I can’t wait to take it off.”

While experts have differing opinions on what is safe after getting vaccinated, they all agree on one thing: don’t lose your mask when you are in public places.

“Other people don’t know you’ve been vaccinated, so by wearing a mask, you’re showing that whether or not you’re vaccinated you’re still looking for them,” Hanage said.