According to the CDC’s webpage regarding Families with Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Members, some family members may still need to take steps to protect themselves against COVID-19, such as children too young to get vaccinated or people with weakened immune systems. Any family member who is not fully vaccinated* should keep taking steps to protect themselves and others.

*In general, people are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

If you have a weakened immune system, or are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older:

• You should wear a mask in indoor public places.
• In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.
• In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.

IMPORTANT NOTE: People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may NOT be protected even if they are fully vaccinated. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.

This post is an excerpt from the CDC’s newsletter “Families with Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Members” sent out on July 19, 2021.