If You’re Fully Vaccinated, Will You Still Wear a Mask?

As of today, the CDC says fully vaccinated people are not required to wear masks outdoors or indoors anymore (yay!!!), but will you still wear one anyway?

"We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Thursday. "Based on the continuing downward trajectory of cases, the scientific data on the performance of our vaccines, and our understanding of how the virus spreads," Walensky continued, "that moment has come for those who are fully vaccinated."

The CDC also says you’re no longer required to social distance (in most cases) if you’ve been fully vaccinated. Doesn’t that sound weird for some reason? I think we’ve accepted this as our new normal, as hard as it’s been, and I never thought a return to normalcy would happen so “soon”.

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, thinks "It’s exactly what we ought to be doing right now.” Over 35% of the population (around 117 million people) has reportedly been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC, so it definitely seems like things are moving in the right direction.

Over the last year masks have, sadly, almost become a political symbol, and are often signs of what your values and morals are, both personally and politically. As a family, we’ve all proudly worn our masks to protect ourselves and our loved ones, and socially distanced according to CDC guidelines. However, with the news breaking today, and with both of us being vaccinated, I think we will be easing up (if not completely foregoing them all together) on the mask wearing.

What do you think? If you’re fully vaccinated, will you be leaving the mask at home? Or are you still going to take every precaution until you’re fully comfortable? Whatever happens, I personally feel so much joy and am looking forward for more breakthroughs like this. And of course, as always, I’m endlessly grateful for the scientists working day and night to help keep us all safe.

Take care of yourselves, friends!! xo