As of June 2, 2021, 40.9 percent of the United States population have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This represents 135.87 million people. Among those who are 65 years old and above, 74.9 percent have received full vaccinations. Among people from 18 to 64 years old, 51.7 percent have been fully vaccinated. Among those who are 12 to 17 years old, 48.5 percent have been fully vaccinated.
Benefits of Full Vaccination
On May 13, CDC lifted most restrictions for people who have completed full doses of Covid-19 vaccination and a two-week post-vaccination period. Fully vaccinated people can now stop wearing masks and do not need to observe physical distancing whether outdoors or indoors, and even in situations where unvaccinated people are around. CDC defines unvaccinated people to include those who have had no vaccination, those who have received only one of two doses of the vaccine, and those who have received a complete dose but are not yet beyond the two-week post-vaccination period.
Fully vaccinated people are now exempt from routine testing for Covid-19. Even after a known exposure, fully vaccinated people need not undergo testing and quarantine if they are asymptomatic. Testing is only required if the person is a resident or employee of a homeless shelter or a correctional and detention facility.
Testing before or after domestic travel and quarantine after arrival are no longer necessary for fully vaccinated people. For international travel, testing is not necessary before departure unless required by the country of destination. Upon arrival in the U.S., fully vaccinated Americans need not self-quarantine but are advised to take a test three to five days later. Americans are also advised to monitor the Covid-19 circumstances in other countries before traveling because of the varying global pandemic situations as well as the rise of new variants.
The CDC guidelines lifting mask-wearing and physical distancing for fully vaccinated people can be overruled by other federal, state, or local laws, rules, and regulations. Local businesses and workplaces can also require fully vaccinated people to continue wearing masks and practice physical distancing. Also, everyone is still required to wear masks in public transportation such as buses, trains, and planes, in public transportation hubs such as stations and airports, well as in homeless shelters and correctional and detention facilities.
Health and Wellness Activities
Fully vaccinated people can now set health and wellness appointments that they postponed during the pandemic before vaccination. For fear of getting infected, many people have foregone necessary visits if the problem is not life-threatening.
For instance, visits to the dentist were among those that were usually put off. Now, fully vaccinated people can get their teeth professionally cleaned, have fillings done, get braces or retainers, or get dentures. They can also have major work done such as a root canal procedure, a dental crown, a dental implant, or a bridge. Having good teeth is not just for aesthetic considerations but affects how people eat and, therefore, affects overall health.
Fully vaccinated people whose vision started to go bad during the pandemic, or need adjustments to their current glasses, can now visit their eye doctor for an eye examination. Cleveland Clinic cites data from the American Optometric Association that over 40 percent of Americans have nearsightedness or myopia. On the other hand, five to 10 percent of Americans have farsightedness or hyperopia. In addition, about a third of the population has astigmatism that also causes blurred vision and often comes with myopia or hyperopia. Not having the right glasses can lead to chronic headaches and dizziness.
Fully vaccinated people who need regular professional therapeutic massage can now book the sessions they need. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), massage therapy can help ease pain, anxiety, and depression among fibromyalgia sufferers if continued for a minimum of five weeks. According to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), massage therapy reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and increases blood circulation and lymph flow. It helps treat back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, repetitive stress injuries, muscle tension, headaches including migraines, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
Fully vaccinated people who have skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, severe acne, eczema, fungal infections, and warts, among others, can visit their dermatologist for proper diagnosis or follow-ups and prescription. These conditions can be extremely uncomfortable and affect the emotional well-being of sufferers.
Enjoying Leisure Activities
There are many other health and wellness activities that fully vaccinated people can now undertake. With these needs met, they can go on to enjoy more leisurely aspects of normal life. This includes meeting up in person with family members and friends who live in other households. There is more freedom to experience life to its fullest.
