The ever changing Covid-19 guidelines

With three vaccines now available to adults, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson, the rate of vaccination in the United States is steadily increasing. More businesses are advocating for their workers to get the vaccine. The vaccine guidelines are continuously changing, making New York State a safer place to be.

Some people who are fully vaccinated have found that shortly after the second vaccine they might have side effects.  Anyone who experiences these side effects should know that they are not sick, instead their immune system is being activated to fight the virus. These side effects include pain where the vaccine was given, fever, fatigue, headache, and chills. Any of these reactions to the virus would only last for a few days.

The travel guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated have been greatly relaxed. Anyone from New York state who travels anywhere in the United States does not need to be quarantined or tested for COVID-19 once they arrive back in state for the 90 days after their full vaccination. If someone is not vaccinated and travels to a U.S. state that does not border New York, they still need to quarantine for ten days, or get two negative COVID-19 tests. 

As of March 10th, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo has decreased the age of vaccine eligibility to sixty. The minimum age for vaccine eligibility was previously 65 years old. Public-facing employees were qualified for the vaccine on March 17th, 2020. 

 There have been disagreements on the businesses that should be prioritized in vaccine eligibility. One example of this kind of business would be Postal Offices. “We have been out here since day one, Postal service has not shut down,” says USPS worker Nick Riggio. It should be understood that companies that have been working since the beginning of the pandemic have been taking risks and have undergone countless difficulties.

The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are protecting many citizens from the COVID-19 virus. Moderna and Pfizer have a 90-95% efficacy, while Johnson and Johnson have approximately 70% efficacy from COVID-19. Between allowing more workers from certain businesses to get vaccinated, the age for vaccination lowering, and the rates of positive COVID-19 cases decreasing, New York State is forming a safer environment for everyone.