So, you’re fully vaccinated. Now what?
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Dear John
Last week New York City saw a record-breaking day for Covid-19 vaccines. Across the country, upwards of 3.5 million Americans are getting vaccinated everyday.
More than 40% of adults in New York City have gotten at least one dose ([link removed]) , which is great news but there is still a ways to go to get everyone vaccinated The numbers are higher in our district (55% of adults in the 11215 zip code, 41% in 11218, and 48% in 11231). But they are lower in Central Brooklyn -- which is why Neighbor Network vaccine outreach phone-banks ([link removed]) continue to focus there. Please sign up to help if you can.
I’m happy to report that, like growing numbers of you, I’m now fully vaccinated, two weeks on from my vaccine shot. So it seemed like a good time (as Rosa promised the other week) to take on the questions: What activities a fully vaccinated person can do, and what unvaccinated people can do around them?
Based on CDC guidance ([link removed]) , fully vaccinated people (generally two weeks after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or after your single dose of the now paused Johnson & Johnson) are able to restart activities we were doing before the pandemic -- like going into the office, taking public transportation, heading back to the gym, or eating inside a restaurant -- while continuing to wear masks and practice social distancing in public settings.
While the vaccine is showing great signs of keeping people from getting sick, we are still learning how the virus spreads and how capable vaccinated people are of spreading it. So it is still important to maintain precautions like wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands.
According to the CDC ([link removed]) fully vaccinated people can gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without being masked or distanced. Fully vaccinated people can gather indoors with unvaccinated people (of any age) from one household. I feel like I’ve heard the sounds of grandparents celebrating with grandkids reverberating all throughout our neighborhood!
A fully vaccinated person also does not need to quarantine after a suspected exposure to someone with Covid-19. (However, if you live or work in a congregate living setting, like a nursing home, the CDC still recommends getting tested and staying away from others for 14 days if you know you’ve been exposed, even if you don’t experience any symptoms).
Vaccinated individuals can travel domestically with very little risk to themselves, ([link removed]) and do not need to be tested or quarantine while traveling within the US. Travelers must wear masks on planes or trains according to President Biden’s federal mandate, ([link removed]) to keep other passengers safe and healthy. If you are planning on traveling internationally, you do not need to get tested before leaving the country, but you will need to show a negative test result before boarding a plane back to the U.S. You do not have to quarantine upon arrival in the U.S, but you should still get tested 3-5 days after re-entry.
The CDC says it is still important to avoid medium or large indoor gatherings as we learn more about the vaccine and the ability for vaccinated people to spread the virus. New variants are spreading rapidly among younger people -- right now, it appears that the vaccines offer robust immunity against those variants, but that is one thing we’re going to need to keep a very close eye on. There’s a lot we are still learning, and we are still a long way from herd immunity.
If we keep up with the strong pace of vaccination, help make sure people in every community get vaccinated, and keep following CDC guidance, we can make this spring and summer one of the best ever.
You can already feel the tremendous joy of seeing family members, going to Memorial Day BBQs, going to the beach, starting to travel again, and enjoying open spaces -- so full of outdoor music, performance, food, and celebration all across the city. (Rosa mentioned in her email a few weeks ago that she was hoping that the Parks Department and the DOE would make it possible for schools to have outdoor graduations, and I’m happy to report that I hear they are working on it!)
With hope and resolve,
Brad
Covid-19 Updates and Resources
* Latest Virus Data: In NYC, 2,510 new COVID cases were reported April 20th, for a total of 909,652 cases since the start of the pandemic. We have lost 32,178 people in NYC from the virus, including sadly 38 reported on April 20th. The number of new cases and the positive rate have been declining slightly for the past week, but the citywide 7-day rolling average of positive test rates is 4.83%. City data here ([link removed]) .
* Vaccine Data: As of today, 6,726,215 vaccine doses have been delivered to New York City, and 5,890, 423 have been administered. For more information on vaccine eligibility, locations, and data, visit the NYC Vaccine Command Center’s Website ([link removed]) . (And you can review our office’s Vaccine FAQ here ([link removed]) ).
* Beware of COVID Vaccine Scams: Please ignore any individual or organization claiming to be able to provide a vaccine in exchange for payment. No vaccine distributors will ask you for Social Security, credit card, or bank account information. The vaccine is completely free, regardless of whether you have health insurance. If you suspect any fraudulent activity relating to COVID-19, please call the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Action Center Hotline at 718-250-2340.
* Get Tested: Even with these new vaccines in circulation it is still so important to keep up our social distancing, wear masks, and get tested. For information about testing sites around the city, visit New York City’s Covid-19 testing website ([link removed]) .
* Self Senior Sign up: If you are a senior or know a senior who would benefit from free friendly calls from the Neighbor Network during this isolating time, you can now sign up here by filling out this form ([link removed]) or calling 914.572.5526.
Education Updates and Resources
* 3-K for All Districts: Starting this fall, DOE will expand 3-K programs across the city ([link removed]) . In school districts in and around this part of Brooklyn (15, 13, 20) DOE will offer 3-K seats to as many families as possible. New programs for next school year will continue to be added to the 3-K application through May. You cansign up ([link removed]) for the 3-K admissions email list to be notified as new 3-K programs are added. You can find out your school district by calling 311 or visiting schools.nyc.gov/Find-a-School. Then visit MySchools ([link removed]) to create your MySchools account ([link removed]) through which you can explore 3-K options, build your application, and apply online. The 3-K application deadline has been extended to May 28.
Other Updates and Resources
* Legal Services Hotline: NYC Financial Justice Hotline is a free legal hotline for low-income NYC residents. The hotline staffed in English and Spanish,provides free legal information, advice, and referrals on a wide range of financial justice issues--from discriminatory banking practices to predatory debt collection. You can find more information here ([link removed]) .
* COJO Flatbush Tax Collection: They are offering free tax services for tax season. If you need assistance filing your taxes you can find more information and contact them here ([link removed]) .
* Access Benefits Helpline through Legal Aid: Anyone having trouble with an application to apply for or recertify for HRA cash assistance, SNAP, or Medicaid benefits, can all the Legal Aid Society’s Access to Benefits Helpline at 888-663-6880 M-F 10am-3pm.
We are redirecting our Fresh Direct Bag Program: After collecting and redistributing more than 50,000 bags, we are transitioning our Fresh Direct bag donation effort now that Fresh Direct has established its own program to connect bag donors with nearby food pantries. A couple of our partners, Masbia and People in Need, are now signed up for direct bag drop off through Fresh Direct’s program. Locations and times are below. You can find the complete list of partners here. ([link removed]) Thank you to the many constituents who have continued to collect and donate their extra bags over the course of the pandemic. This has provided a much needed supply of durable bags to food providers, and helped reduce the number of these bags entering our waste stream. We hope you will continue to donate directly through this new program.
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District 39
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Brooklyn, NY 11215-4076
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