Do I Need To Wear A Mask If I'm Vaccinated?
The CDC has relaxed its masking requirements for people who are fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, the CDC no longer requires you to wear a mask or socially distance whether you are outdoors or indoors, at home or in public, with your family or around strangers.
According to the CDC’s guidelines, the only time fully vaccinated individuals would have to wear a mask is when they are in a place where masks are required due to any particular laws, rules, and regulations of:
- Federal government
- State government
- Local government
- Tribal government
- Territorial government
- Private businesses or workplaces
The previous masking regulations and requirements from the CDC still apply to individuals who have not yet been vaccinated, including those who have not yet received both doses of their Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and completed the recommended two-week waiting period.
Are There Any Instances When I Should Choose to Wear a Mask?
Although the CDC’s requirements have been lifted and fully vaccinated people should be adequately protected, there is still a very slight chance of virus transmission in places where not everyone is vaccinated. As a result, there might be some times when you may still want to take precautions to protect yourself and those around you by choosing to wear a mask.
Some of these instances include:
- Being in a large crowd when you can't be sure everyone is vaccinated
- Spending time with individuals who are at a high risk of developing a severe illness with COVID-19
- Spending time with people who are not members of your household when you know that not everyone has been vaccinated
Now that masks are no longer required, choosing to wear one or not in these situations is left up to personal preference, your comfort, and the comfort of those around you.
Who Can Get Vaccinated for COVID-19 in Texas?
In Texas, everyone who is 12 years of age or older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment With Gulf Coast Health Center
If you have not yet been vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to talk with a healthcare provider at your nearest Gulf Coast Health Center location about getting vaccinated to protect yourself and those around you from the novel coronavirus.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, where you can get one, and who is eligible to receive which vaccines, we welcome you to contact us today.