The day everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived, 17 May. From today onwards you will be able to travel internationally, hug your loved ones, and have a pint indoors. But the country is not completely out of troubled waters yet. With the worrisome Indian variant lurking around, experts are warning citizens to proceed with extreme caution—including everyone who has recently received both their COVID jabs.
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An important reminder
Experts have been reminding the public that getting both doses of the vaccine does not give you instant protection. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are only considered to befully vaccinated two weeks after they have received their second dose. The site notes:
It typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19.
That means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection.
People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.
If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
Staying cautious
Over 36 million people in the UK will soon be receiving their second dose of the vaccine, so getting this information out in the public is crucial now more than ever. As the UK is continuously easing restrictions, it is up to the citizens to stay vigilant. Professor Sir Mark Walport, former government chief scientific advisor spoke on BBC Breakfast, warning the public to maintain caution for several weeks after getting each of the jabs. He explains:
The vaccine doesn’t give you instant protection; it takes at least two weeks or so after the first dose to start having an effect.
Vaccination on its own is not the instant magic bullet.
