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More and more people are getting vaccinated.

Many people are wondering when their lives will return to normal and when they will be able to remove their masks.

Mask-wearing and social distancing should remain in place for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, vaccination does not automatically mean that we can return to our previous way of life. Until a sufficient level of herd immunity is achieved, the vaccine will simply be another means of protection against COVID-19.

To achieve herd immunity (population immunity), 50% to 80% of the population will need to be vaccinated. And since increasing vaccine production and distribution will take time, we urge people to remain cautious in their expectations of a rapid return to normality.

It is important to always remember that mask-wearing and social distancing should remain in place for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, vaccination does not automatically mean that we can return to our previous way of life.

Until a sufficient level of herd immunity is achieved, the vaccine will simply be another means of protection against COVID-19.

To achieve herd immunity (population immunity), 50% to 80% of the population will need to be vaccinated. And since increasing vaccine production and distribution will take time, we urge people to remain cautious in their expectations of a rapid return to normality.

Reasons why you should continue wearing a mask even after vaccination:

1. There remains a possibility that vaccinated individuals may become infected without developing symptoms and may then transmit the disease to other people who have not yet been vaccinated. Since the pandemic began approximately 10 months ago, experts have been concerned about “silent” carriers, as well as people who have been infected but show no symptoms. If vaccinated individuals do not continue wearing masks until more people have received their second dose, they could continue to contribute to the circulation of the virus. With vaccination, you are much less likely to become ill and develop symptoms yourself; however, it is important to protect others while they are waiting to be vaccinated.
2. We must continue to protect those who are immunocompromised and those who cannot be vaccinated. We know that people with chronic conditions (such as heart disease and cancer or other conditions involving immunosuppression) are at risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. And since this population was not included in the clinical trials, we cannot assume that the immune response they develop will reach the same effectiveness levels of 94% to 95%.
   It is also recommended that you do not receive the vaccine if you have had an allergic reaction to any of its ingredients.
   If you had an allergic reaction to the first dose, receiving the second dose is not recommended.
   Pregnant women may choose to be vaccinated after discussing it with their Gynecologist. According to current knowledge, it is considered rather unlikely that they or their fetuses are at risk. On the contrary, pregnant women are considered at high risk of severe illness. Breastfeeding mothers may choose to be vaccinated, as the vaccines currently in circulation do not contain live viruses.
3. The vaccine does not act as an automatic off-switch for the pandemic
   As much as we would like to hope that the vaccine will mean an immediate return to normality, this is not the case. It is emphasized that following the emergence of variants, the vaccination rate required to achieve herd immunity may rise to >80%.
   Instead, the vaccine represents an additional weapon in our arsenal for combating the pandemic. We must continue to wear masks, wash our hands, avoid crowds and maintain social and physical distancing for some time yet.
   The first changes to mask-use guidelines will most likely be seen only after enough people have been vaccinated and cases and deaths have declined, infectious disease specialists report. Until then, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to control COVID-19.