Good news, travelers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says fully vaccinated travelers can travel at low risk to themselves.
Someone is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they receive the last recommended dose of a vaccine.
“With millions of Americans getting vaccinated every day, it is important to update the public on the latest science about what fully vaccinated people can do safely, now including guidance on safe travel,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a news release.
“We continue to encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as it’s their turn, so we can begin to safely take steps back to our everyday lives,” Walensky added. “Vaccines can help us return to the things we love about life, so we encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity.”
Fully vaccinated people can travel within the United States and do not need COVID-19 testing or post-travel self-quarantine as long as they continue to take COVID-19 precautions while traveling – wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, socially distancing, and washing hands frequently.
The Atlanta-based CDC also provided additional guidance for international travel:
- Anyone fully vaccinated can travel internationally without the need for a COVID-19 hand unless required by the international destination.
- Those who are fully vaccinated do not need to self-quarantine after returning to the United States unless a state or local jurisdiction mandates it.
- Anyone who is fully vaccinated must still have a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding a flight to the United States and take a COVID-19 test 3 to 5 days after returning home from an international trip.
- Those who are fully vaccinated should continue to take COVID-19 precautions while traveling internationally.
The updated guidance does not change the agency’s existing direction for people who are not fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated travelers should still get tested 1-3 days before domestic travel and again 3-5 days after returning home. They should stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after returning or 10 days if they are not tested after a trip.
CDC officials still don’t want unvaccinated people to partake in “non-essential domestic travel.”
