Recently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was approved for usage for anyone who is 12+ years of age. Following this news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has adjusted the mask requirements that have been in effect for over a year. Note that these adjustments only apply to those who are fully vaccinated and that you’re not considered fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or 2 weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

If you are fully vaccinated, you’re basically able to return to the life you had before the coronavirus. According to the CDC website, “You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.” This is a major step towards returning to the “normal” lives we had prior to the pandemic because those who are fully vaccinated will no longer have to worry about mask-wearing in most situations. However, masks will still be required on public transportation, airplanes, and some stores or restaurants may still require a mask in order to be helped. Once you are fully vaccinated, you can also travel a little more freely. For example, you will no longer have to self-quarantine for two weeks if you are traveling within the U.S, or if you are arriving in the U.S. from another country. The CDC still requires a negative test before boarding flights entering the U.S, and it is highly recommended to get tested after traveling internationally.

Although the United States may not reach herd immunity against the coronavirus, we may not need it in order for the country to start opening up again. The CDC has reported that 46.6% of Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and only 35.8% of the population is fully vaccinated. In Pennsylvania alone, the last recorded data shows that approximately 35.5% of the population is fully vaccinated. If we all want the country to open up sooner, then it’s important to get vaccinated, especially now that anyone 12 and older is eligible for at least one version of the vaccine. If you’re not sure where you can register to receive your vaccine, you can visit https://vaccine.montcopa.org/ to register and schedule your first appointment. The Abington Junior High School is also having a clinic, similar to the Senior High’s, for anyone over the age of 12. The first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered on May 26th, and the second dose will be given on June 16th at the Little Theater.

Sources: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Dashboard.aspx