People are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine
If it has been less than 2 weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully protected. Keep taking all prevention steps until you are fully vaccinated.
If you are fully vaccinated, you can:
- Gather with others who are vaccinated or unvaccinated.
- Be in most indoor and outdoor public spaces without wearing a face covering or staying 6 feet apart.
- Not get tested and not quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Travel in the United States without needing to get tested before or after travel or self quarantine after travel. International travelers need to pay close attention to the situation at their international destinations before traveling due to the spread of new variants and because the burden of COVID-19 varies globally.
If you are not fully vaccinated, you should:
- Wear a face covering and maintain social distance in all indoor public settings and in outdoor public settings when it is difficult to maintain 6 feet of distance.
- Avoid indoor settings where people are not wearing face coverings.
- Participate in routine screening testing when offered.
- Wear a face covering, maintain social distancing and be outside if possible when gathering with others.
- Get tested and quarantine if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, even if you don’t have symptoms.
Delay travel until fully vaccinated. If you do travel, get tested 1-3 days before and 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
More information can be found from the CDC including information about traveling after vaccination.
More recommendations from NC DHHS for protecting yourself and others from COVID-19 here.