When it comes to grandparents, many are eager to reconnect with their grandchildren. My mother and stepfather reside in Colorado, while my partner’s parents are in Wyoming. Despite the distance, they’ve been keeping in touch through video calls and phone chats. My mother-in-law has even taken to reading bedtime stories to our seven-year-old over Zoom, which has been a lifesaver for my sanity after months of lockdown. However, it’s been far too long since Grandma and Grandpa have had the chance to see the kids in person, and with vaccines being rolled out, the pressing question for us—and likely for you too—is: When can we finally visit?
The situation is complex, much like everything related to COVID-19 over the past year. The first priority is vaccination. As reported by NBC News, the next groups to receive the vaccine, following healthcare workers, are essential employees and individuals over 65—an updated recommendation from the initial age group of 75 and older. It’s also important to highlight that essential workers represent a significant demographic, with about 87 million people falling into that category, not counting those over 75 who also work in essential roles, such as grocery clerks or teachers. Thus, the timeline for Grandma and Grandpa receiving their vaccines remains uncertain, although it should happen in the coming months.
Dr. Emily Foster, an emergency physician and guest educator at the University of Washington, recently discussed the timeline for grandparents visiting their grandchildren without the need for masks or social distancing. Her insights focused on risk mitigation.
Dr. Foster emphasized that getting vaccinated involves multiple steps. While some immunity may develop after the first dose, we still lack clarity on its effectiveness and duration. With both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, there’s a waiting period for the second dose (three weeks for Pfizer and four for Moderna). After the second dose, it typically takes an additional two to three weeks to achieve optimal immunity. This means you’re looking at approximately five to six weeks from the first shot to full protection.
Even after receiving both doses, the vaccine is only 95% effective. While that’s a high level of protection—comparable to other medical procedures—it still leaves a 5% chance of contracting the virus. Fortunately, Dr. Foster notes that being vaccinated significantly reduces the risk of severe illness requiring emergency care.
However, a crucial unknown remains: vaccinated individuals might still carry and transmit the virus. Current data does not provide a definitive answer. As highlighted by The New York Times, vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe symptoms but may not fully prevent transmission, especially in the nose and throat.
Take my partner, for example. In December 2020, she spent three weeks hospitalized due to pneumonia that escalated into septic shock. While her parents would likely be safe from the virus after vaccination, there is still a risk of them carrying it to her, which could be dangerous given her health history.
So, what does this mean for grandparent visits? According to Dr. Anthony Wallace and Newsweek, achieving herd immunity requires about 70-85% of the population to be vaccinated, translating to roughly 230 to 279 million Americans. That’s a considerable number.
Dr. Foster is personally planning for her father to visit from Seattle in the summer or early fall of 2021. While that may feel like ages away, especially in the context of the prolonged pandemic, it offers something to look forward to—more than we’ve had in recent months.
Ultimately, it’s about assessing risk: consider medical histories, ages, and how many family members are vaccinated before making any decisions. Relief is on the horizon, and soon, those grandchildren will be able to enjoy some much-deserved hugs from their grandparents. They’ve certainly missed out on too much time together.
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Summary:
As grandparents eagerly await the chance to reunite with their grandchildren, the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines brings hope. While vaccination timelines vary, and uncertainties about transmission remain, careful consideration of health factors can guide family decisions. With a little patience, families can look forward to joyful reunions.
Keyphrase: Visiting Grandparents During COVID-19
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