It takes time for your body to build protection against COVID-19. You are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, or

• 2 weeks after your single dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

CDC recommends that people remain up to date with their vaccines, which includes additional doses for individuals who are immunocompromised or booster doses at regular time points. 

In Hawaii, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You do not have to wear a mask outdoors except when in crowded areas.

• You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.

• You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people of any age from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks or staying 6 feet apart, UNLESS any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine, get tested, or notify your school/employer unless you develop symptoms or live in a group setting like a long-term care facility, group care home, assisted living facility, correctional facility, shelter, residential rehabilitation and treatment setting, military housing, etc.

Even if you’re fully vaccinated, you should continue to:

• Wear a fitted mask when you:

  • Are outdoors in crowded areas and when you enter indoor public places. Places in Hawaii still require you to wear a mask inside so don’t forget your mask at home!

  • Gather indoors with unvaccinated people (including younger children) from more than one household.

  • Visit indoors with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk.

• Avoid medium or large-sized gatherings.

• Follow the COVID-19 rules at your school.

• Watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.

*Be aware that Hawaii guidelines don’t always follow the current CDC guidelines. Although the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people do not have to wear a mask indoors or outdoors, the Hawaii rules are that you must continue to wear a mask indoors and outdoors when others are around following the guidelines above.