Thinking of traveling soon? Already received your COVID-19 vaccine?

Flying to Orlando?

We’ve already talked about how more individuals in Florida and California will soon become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and how you might need a vaccine passport for travel and more this summer. But now we’ve got an update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding domestic and international travel for those who are already fully vaccinated.

Recently, we shared how the CDC updated its guidance regarding certain activities that fully vaccinated individuals may now do without masks. Now, the CDC has updated its guidance regarding travel for those who are fully vaccinated.

Keep in mind that according to the CDC an individual is “fully vaccinated” 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose COVID-19 vaccine series (like Pfizer or Moderna), or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine (like Johnson & Johnson).

COVID-19 vaccination tents at the Disneyland Resort ©Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG

Under the updated guidelines, the CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, “because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.” If you ARE fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine, the CDC now notes that you can travel safely within the United States.

According to the updated guidance, “fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.” The CDC notes that fully vaccinated travelers do NOT need to get tested before or after travel, unless their destination specifically requires it. They also state that fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-quarantine.

Flight from Orlando

Fully vaccinated travelers should still follow the CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely, however, to protect others if they travel. This means fully vaccinated travelers should continue to:

• Wear a mask over their nose and mouth during travel (a reminder that the CDC has issued an order requiring individuals to wear face masks while on public transportation in the U.S. and while at transportation hubs);
• Avoid crowds and stay 6-feet away from anyone not traveling with the vaccinated traveler; and
• Wash their hands often or use hand sanitizer.

You can get a look at some of the updated guidance below.

Updated Guidance ©CDC

If you are not fully vaccinated and you must travel, then the CDC outlines separate steps to be taken including testing before you travel, testing after you travel, and more.

Here’s a look at a chart created by the CDC regarding domestic travel and the guidance for fully vaccinated vs. non vaccinated individuals.

Note the Difference in Guidance ©CDC

Keep in mind that states, local areas, and territorial governments may have their own specific travel restrictions in place, including testing requirements, stay-at-home orders, and quarantine requirements. You’ll want to check those before travel to ensure that you’re following all state, local, and territorial restrictions.

These specific updates referenced above, regarding guidelines for vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals, all relate to domestic travel.

Orlando Airport

If you are traveling internationally, the CDC has separate guidance for that. Specifically, the guidance notes that fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19, but that international travel poses additional risks. The CDC shares that “even fully vaccinated travels are at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading new COVID-19 variants” when it comes to international travel.

So, the CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated (with an FDA-authorized vaccine) then the CDC guidelines indicate you should continue to get tested after travel, but you do not need to get tested before leaving the U.S. unless your destination requires it.

International Travel Guidance ©CDC

Like with domestic travel, the CDC still notes that fully vaccinated travelers going on international trips should wear masks, avoid crowds, and wash their hands often.

You can see the chart below regarding the differences in recommendations for international travel for those who are fully vaccinated vs. those who are not vaccinated.

Note the Differences ©CDC

If traveling internationally, you’ll still need to check with your destination’s government or health department to see their requirements and restrictions, and check with your airline for any requirements.

According to the Washington Post, the CDC updated its recommendations because of “newly released studies showing the real-world effectiveness of the vaccines.”

Ready to Fly?

You can get more updates and read the full details of these policies on the CDC website. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we find.

Click here to see the updated guidance about how fully vaccinated individuals can gather inside without masks.