Updated on May 7, 2021

CDC: What You Can Do Once You Have Been Fully Vaccinated

Please note that the following CDC guidelines are changing regularly. Visit cdc.gov for the most up-to-date information.

  • “Indoor visits between fully vaccinated people who do not wear masks or physically distance from one another are likely low risk.”
  • “Unvaccinated people can visit with fully vaccinated people indoors, without anyone wearing masks, with a low risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.”
  • So, if you’re vaccinated you can be unmasked around an unvaccinated, low-risk family member. However, please note, even if someone is low risk, that doesn’t necessarily mean there is NO risk; they can still end up in the hospital from COVID19.
  • “If any of the unvaccinated people or their household members are at increased risk of severe COVID-19, all attendees should take pre-cautions.”
  • You need to be careful if you’re vaccinated and visiting an unvaccinated older adult, pregnant friend, or someone with underlying medical conditions.
  • “If unvaccinated people come from multiple households, there is a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among them. Therefore, all people involved should take precautions.” Individual risk between two unvaccinated people from two households is still high. As a rule of thumb, everyone still needs to be careful when mixing households.
  • “All people, regardless of vaccination status, should avoid medium- or large-sized in-person gatherings and to follow any applicable local guidance restricting the size of gatherings.”

  1. If cases of COVID-19 in Houston are rising, it is probably better not to meet in person. TMC.edu is a great resource for tracking cases in Houston.
  2. If you do meet, meeting outdoors in a well ventilated area is ideal. If meeting indoors, good air circulation is important: turn on the AC/ceiling fan and open windows when possible. Maintain appropriate social distancing.
  3. Try to keep any indoor portion of any get together no longer than 30 minutes (the shorter the safer).
  4. Do not hug or shake hands. Elbow bumps are ok 🙂
  5. 10 people (including kids) should be the max number of people meeting. The smaller the group the safer.
  6. Anyone who is possibly sick should NOT join.
  7. Anyone who is or is living with someone who is awaiting a COVID-19 test or has recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is displaying COVID-19 symptoms should NOT join.
  8. Anyone who cannot afford a two-week quarantine period should they later find out someone in the group tested positive for COVID-19, should NOT join.

Remember when you get together, you are not only potentially sharing germs with the people in your group, but you are also sharing germs with everyone they live with and everyone they live with may be sharing germs with you. The larger the group, the greater the risk to everyone at the meeting.

For additional counseling, please call the office for a telemedicine visit with your doctor.