Henry Wu, M.D., infectious disease specialist and director of the TravelWell Center at Emory University, agrees. “I think that is by far the most important thing any traveler can do if it's available to your age group,” he tells SELF. But even with precautions, traveling right now isn't for everyone. “If you're especially high risk, unvaccinated, or have a medical condition that makes the vaccine less effective,” it’s best to wait, Dr. Wu says.
Dr. Doron was set to travel to Israel this month but canceled her trip when, in late spring, the Israeli government said it would require a negative PCR test before departure and a PCR and serological test on arrival. As a scientist, she’s aware that. “The FDA specifically says [not to] use blood tests to prove immunity. Those tests are not accurate or reliable to do that,” says Dr. Doron.
The safety precautions for getting to your destination vary slightly depending on your specific situation. COVID-19 vaccines are very effective, especially at preventing death and severe disease. However, no vaccine is 100% effective, so safety precautions likeand hand hygiene are still prudent for even vaccinated people who are on planes or other crowded areas. And our public health goal, Dr. Thorpe says, is not just preventing sickness, it's to “decrease transmission anywhere and everywhere.” If the virus isn’t transmitting, it can’t mutate into new or more resilient variants.