I'm fully vaccinated, but am I ready to travel?
In June or July I might finally be able to meet my nephew who was born in 2020. But how am I going to get to Michigan to see him?
I'm long past two weeks from my second vaccination dose, and my husband is a mere 10 days away from his two-week mark. I've written before about some of the small things we plan on doing, from a haircut to outdoor dining, but now we also have to start thinking about some of the bigger things. Like whether we're ready to travel on a plane to see our loved ones.
Questions like these always come down to our personal levels of risk tolerance. My husband and I are not very risk tolerant and have kept our behavior extra cautious during the pandemic. Now, we have to figure out what this new reality means for our risk assessments for everyday choices and big decisions.
The latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (as of April 2) said Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can resume travel at low risk to themselves. Vaccinated travelers no longer have to follow the CDC's recommendations to get a COVID-19 test before and after travel unless required by the destination. They still need to wear masks and take other precautions. For the most up-to-date recommendations, see the CDC's website here.
Inevitably we will look at data and scientific advice, take account of our anxieties, budgets and time, and make a decision. It will be hard and uncomfortable, but it is a step towards figuring out how to navigate our lives as vaccines are distributed and we inch back towards something like "normal."
It's a strange new world. But I know we can navigate it together.
Today's travel news
Just like me, many Americans are thinking about travel now that vaccinations are widely available. And many LGBTQ Americans are leading the way when it comes to tourism recovery for the country.
LGBTQ tour companies and travel agents have a direct connection to queer travelers and report strong interest in and bookings of travel. "After (releasing) our entire tour schedule through the end of 2022, we saw our largest month of sales in our 12-year history," says Robert Sharp, co-founder and CEO of Out Adventures.
Travel safety is entwined with the LGBTQ community. In 70+ countries, many popular with LGBTQ travelers, homosexuality is criminalized. That includes 11 countries in which death is the punishment meted out for those convicted of homosexuality and other “crimes” of sexual and gender nonconformity. Trans and nonbinary travelers, especially those of color, may encounter challenges including lack of safe bathroom access, awkward encounters at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints and even outright hostility and worse in any public setting.
In the face of all this, queer people still explore and have a lot to teach the rest of the world about how to travel with intent and joy while maintaining their own safety and that of the community around them.
"LGBTQ consumers have the power to make change and support LGBTQ-friendly companies and destinations by choosing to spend their travel dollars with those that support our community," says Jeff Guaracino, co-author of the "Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality." "As a community, we can support LGBTQ-owned and friendly businesses and their employees by spending our travel dollars with them first."
You can read the full story here.
Today's reads
Woody and Buzz would be happy: Mattel has a way for families to extend the life of your unused and outgrown toys – and keep them out of the landfill – with the launch of its toy takeback program.
What specific level of antibodies protect against COVID? Researchers are rushing to find out.
Here are some sports records that were not meant to be easily broken.
COVID fear and anxiety is still affecting many of us, even after vaccination. Health reporter Adrianna Rodriguez digs into it.
I wrote an ode to one of my (surprisingly) favorite streaming services: Apple TV+.
Today's pet
Are you ready for a fluffy puppy? Prepare yourselves.
"This is Jagger. He is an eight-week-old Bernese Mountain Dog," says loving dog mom Kris Cassar. "He lives in Millersburg, Michigan. He loves the Lake Huron beach!"
Jagger I can't wait to see you when you're fully grown.
Don't forget you can scroll through all the adorable pups, kittens, turtles, hamsters and more who have been featured in the newsletter here. It's a joy.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I'm fully vaccinated, but am I ready to travel?
