Airlines for America, a group representing major USA airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air lines, United Airlines Southwest Airlines, and other trade groups had urged the CDC on March 22 to immediately update its guidance to say "vaccinated individuals can travel safely". A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last recommended dose of vaccine.
"With millions of Americans getting vaccinated every day, it is important to update the public on the latest science about what fully vaccinated people can do safely, now including guidance on safe travel", said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
She nonetheless held out the promise of travel in asking people to get vaccinated when they can.
People should still wear a mask, socially distance and avoid crowds, the agency says.
Not only that, but immunized travelers who are traveling domestically don't have to get a COVID test before or after travel, unless certain localities require it, and they don't have to self-quarantine.
- Vaccinated people should still get a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to the USA, and be tested three to five days after returning.
Vietnam receives first batch of vaccines under COVAX scheme
India rolled out an ambitious vaccine export programme, rivalling China's, in a move to fortify its worldwide influence. On Monday, Canada suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people under 55, citing new concerning data from Europe.
The CDC has been slowly offering guidance on what people can do once fully vaccinated. They do not need to quarantine. It also said vaccinated people could visit with unvaccinated people from a single household under similar conditions, as long as the unvaccinated individuals were at low risk for severe illness if infected.
Air travel still remains down 43% from pre-COVID levels and business and global travel remain even harder hit.
US air travel has begun rebounding - 1.6 million people passed through TSA checkpoints on Thursday, well above the 124,000 who did so a year before yet still below the 2.4 million from the same day in 2019. They should stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel or 10 days if they don't get tested at the conclusion of travel.
The CDC still discourages "non-essential domestic travel" by those who aren't fully vaccinated.
The U.S. began its vaccine rollout in mid-December.
