Can vaccinated people socialize during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Just make sure they are vaccinated too or at a low risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Fully vaccinated people can visit privately with other fully vaccinated individuals indoors and without a mask or physical distancing.

Can you transmit COVID-19 while fully vaccinated?

While fully vaccinated people are less likely to transmit the coronavirus to unvaccinated people, it is still possible to spread the virus. Please get tested if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, even after you are fully vaccinated.

Can I stop wearing a face mask and social distancing after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

Not yet. We don’t know how effective the vaccine is going to be, or how many people are going to receive it. The recommendation is continue to practice social distancing, wear a face mask, and really good hand-washing. We’re going to have to do this for a little while longer.

Can breakthrough COVID-19 infections be transmitted to others?

SARS-CoV-2 is still easily transmitted With breakthrough infections, the viral loads are similar to those who are unvaccinated. That means such infections among fully immunized patients could be transmitted to others who are unvaccinated or have compromised immune systems.

Has anyone gotten COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated?

Some fully vaccinated people—and those who have received boosters—have acquired SARS-CoV-2 and developed COVID-19. That is expected. One Mayo Clinic intensivist explains what to know about COVID-19 vaccination, boosters and breakthrough infections.

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Why do some people still get COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated?

Because vaccines are not 100% effective, as the number of people who are fully vaccinated goes up, the number of vaccine breakthrough infections will also increase. However, the risk of infection remains much higher for unvaccinated than vaccinated people.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine boost your immune system?

Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.

What does a breakthrough COVID-19 infection mean?

There's a small chance you could catch the coronavirus after you get the vaccine. You might hear this called “breakthrough COVID-19.” Some people who get a breakthrough infection have no symptoms and don't get sick. But a small percentage get ill, go to the hospital, or die from COVID-19.

How does the CDC define breakthrough COVID-19 infections?

Breakthrough infections were defined as new cases among persons who were fully vaccinated on the day of specimen collection. Hospitalizations among persons with breakthrough infection were defined as new hospital admissions among persons fully vaccinated on the reporting day.

Can you get reinfected with COVID-19 after having COVID?

If you or a loved one had COVID‑19, you're likely wondering how long you might be protected from getting it again. In general, research suggests that natural immunity against infection is strong for about 3-5 months. After that, your risk of COVID‑19 reinfection may start to go up.

How long does it take for immunity to wane after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

A study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that immunity against severe COVID-19 begins to wane four months after receiving a so-called "booster" third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

What is the duration of protection against COVID-19 when vaccinated?

Studies of the duration of protection of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness indicate that vaccine effectiveness decreases more against infection and symptomatic disease than against severe disease in the 6 months after full vaccination.

What can I do once I'm fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

Once you're fully vaccinated and up to date on your COVID boosters, you can travel within the United States. You don't need to get tested for COVID-19 before or after your trip unless the place you're traveling to requires it. You don't need to quarantine when you get back, either.

Will a person with COVID-19 vaccine have a positive antibody test?

A COVID-19 vaccination may also cause a positive antibody test result for some but not all antibody tests. You should not interpret the results of your SARS-CoV-2 antibody test as an indication of a specific level of immunity or protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Are symptoms different for breakthrough COVID-19?

The symptoms of breakthrough COVID-19 are similar to COVID-19 symptoms in unvaccinated people, but are generally milder. You may not notice any symptoms at all. If you are fully vaccinated and develop a fever, feel ill, or experience any symptom that is not typical for you, getting a COVID-19 test may be a good idea.

How long are you contagious after being sick with COVID-19?

Most people with COVID-19 are no longer contagious 5 days after they first have symptoms and have been fever-free for at least three days.

What are some of the symptoms of the Omicron COVID-19 variant?

All of the variants, including delta and omicron, cause similar COVID-19 symptoms, including cough, fever and fatigue. There is some evidence that fewer people with omicron lose their taste and smell.

What exactly does the COVID-19 vaccine do to the body?

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness.

Does your immune system get stronger after COVID-19?

Any time you catch a virus and recover from the illness, you retain antibodies. These antibodies help your body fight off future infections so that you either don't get sick or have milder symptoms.

Do COVID-19 vaccines protect people from getting COVID-19?

COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying—especially people who are boosted. As with vaccines for other diseases, you are protected best when you stay up to date with the recommended number of doses and boosters.

COVID-19 vaccines even offer protection to people who had COVID-19, including protection against being hospitalized from a new infection.

How long does the protection from Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 booster vaccine last?

The most recent research from the CDC suggests that protection from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines starts to fade around 4 months after a booster dose.

How long is the stability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

Pfizer-BioNTech has submitted data to FDA supporting the stability of their COVID-19 vaccine when stored for up to one month (31 days) at 2°-8°C (standard refrigerator temperature).

Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine if you already had COVID-19 and recovered?

If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get a COVID-19 vaccine? You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system.

Do vaccinated people who got COVID-19 have more COVID-19 antibodies?

Lab research suggests that people with hybrid immunity make higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies than people who've been either vaccinated or infected. Their antibodies are also more potent than those in people who've only gotten their initial COVID-19 vaccines.

What if I don't get the second COVID-19 vaccine shot?

The bottom line is that if you didn't get your second shot on time, you'll want to get it as soon as possible. If you didn't get your second shot because you developed COVID-19 at some point during the vaccination process, it's still recommended that you get your second dose.