WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has quietly released new guidance for quarantining, and it effectively changes the definition of fully vaccinated to include a blanket statement to include all COVID-19 vaccinations plus boosters.
The wording of the new guidance also allows for the CDC to easily change the amount of booster shots in the future needed to be considered fully vaccinated to include “additional primary shots and boosters” as “all recommended vaccine doses”.
The CDC guidance points to the current status of recommended vaccine doses, which now includes a booster shot five months after Pfizer’s two shot vaccination. It also includes a booster shot six months after the Moderna vaccine and the Johnson and Johnson booster shot just two months after receiving that vaccine.
“As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to update our recommendations to ensure the best possible protection for the American people. Following the FDA’s authorizations, today’s recommendations ensure people are able to get a boost of protection in the face of Omicron and increasing cases across the country,” CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday in a statement.
As of the beginning of December, only 36% of Americans received full vaccination regimens plus a booster shot. This announcement comes just days after Dr. Anthony Fauci said the decision to change the definition of fully vaccinated could come soon.
“A booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all persons 18 years of age and older, at least 6 months after completion of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) primary series, or at least 2 months after completion of a Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine primary dose,” the CDC said.
The new guidance does not consider natural immunity gained from being infected with the omicron or delta variants.
The CDC guidance now states:
If you came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you do not need to quarantine.
- You are ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
- You are ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
- You had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test).
You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0). Get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. If you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate from other people and follow recommendations in the Isolation section below. If you tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and subsequently recovered and remain without COVID-19 symptoms, you do not need to quarantine or get tested after close contact. You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0).