If you’ve gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, here are three things you should remember:

 

1. Keep Your Vaccination Card/Record Safe and Available

DO NOT LOSE YOUR VACCINATION CARD. You need your vaccination card, even when you get your second vaccine. In the future, employers may required that employees demonstrate that workers have been vaccinated. Treat your vaccination card like a piece of identification (e.g. your driver’s license, your passport, or your jobsite ID/pass).

Here are some tips for keeping your vaccination record safe (especially after your second dose):

  • Keep your card in your wallet.
  • Take a photo of your card with your phone.
  • Laminate your card to protect it.
  • Photocopy the card and keep the copy in a safe place.
  • Share a copy of the card with your primary physician, or whichever medical professional office has your vaccination records.

 

2. Know How the Vaccine Impacts Quarantine Protocols

While the COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency-use in the US are effective at preventing severe symptoms of COVID-19, there is not enough data about how the vaccines impact the rate of transmission, how long the protection lasts, or how effective they are against the newer variants.

For now, the CDC issued guidance stating that vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure IF they meet ALL of the following criteria:

Individuals are not required to quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure IF they,

  1. Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
  2. Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
  3. Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure

 

Persons who do not meet all 3 of the above criteria should follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

 

 

3. Getting Vaccinated Does Not Mean Living Like It’s 2019

At this time, vaccinated persons should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others, including,

  • Wearing a mask
  • Staying at least 6 feet away from others
  • Avoiding crowds
  • Avoiding poorly ventilated spaces
  • Covering coughs and sneezes
  • Washing hands often
  • Following CDC travel guidance
  • Following any applicable workplace or school guidance, including guidance related to personal protective equipment use or COVID-19 testing.

 

Click below to read more about the CDC’s recommendations relating to the COVID-19 vaccines and being “fully vaccinated”: