CDC updates travel guidance for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19

People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to get tested before or after travel within the United States — unless their travel destination mandates testing, according to updated guidance from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recently. People are considered fully vaccinated once they are 2 weeks past their final vaccine dose.

Fully vaccinated people also do not need to self-quarantine after travel in the U.S. For international travel, the guidance differs, as international destinations may pose additional risks, such as greater exposure to SARS-CoV-2 variants. Fully vaccinated people do not need to get tested before their international trip unless their destination requires it, but they should get tested 3 to 5 days after they return to the U.S. (they are also still required to have a negative test result within 3 days before boarding their return flight). They do not need to self-quarantine upon return.

The CDC does advise delaying all travel until a person is fully vaccinated, and all travellers, including the fully vaccinated, should continue to wear masks, maintain physical distance from others, and wash their hands frequently.