Some 44.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed in the U.S., and a little more than half have been administered. 

As of Tuesday, just 3.5 million Americans have received two shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here are some vaccination questions and answers.

Do I need to wear a mask to see my friends if I have been vaccinated?

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people continue to wear a mask and maintain social distance after vaccination.

Experts say they need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions. 

Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision, according to CDC.

After I get vaccinated is it safe to eat inside a restaurant?

On-site dining with indoor seating involves not wearing masks in close proximity with other people. It’s a higher risk activity.

Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York said he will continue to avoid indoor dining and advised people don’t eat inside.

“None of us should be there,” Russo said. 

Can I visit my family now that I’m vaccinated?

The safest plan is to wait until you and your family members receive the vaccine. Vaccines are an important tool to reduce deaths and help end the pandemic. Getting the vaccine does not mean that you won’t get sick with COVID-19.

As new coronavirus variants have emerged around the world, new data shows the COVID-19 vaccines currently available on the market may be less effective against new mutated strains. 

How soon we can get back to ‘normal life’?

Life will return to normal only when the majority of people have been vaccinated.

“I believe that if we do get that 70 to 85% of the population vaccinated, we would reach a degree of herd immunity that would get us to approach strongly a degree of normality,” Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said recently.

U.S. President Joe Biden has set a goal of 150 million shots in his first 100 days in office. Americans who want a COVID-19 vaccine should be able to get one by the spring.

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