This past week the CDC issued relaxed guidelines for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. These are people for whom two weeks have passed after having both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson. Their vaccine should be in full effect.

The new guidelines say:

• People who have been fully vaccinated may spend time indoors with other vaccinated people without wearing masks or social distancing.

• People who have been fully vaccinated may spend time indoors without masking or social distancing with unvaccinated people from one household, as long as those people are not at high risk of serious complications from COVID-19.

• People who have been fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine or get tested for COVID-19 after exposure to the virus if they do not have symptoms.

This should allow more social gathering in nursing homes, where everyone has been immunized. It will also allow grandparents to get together with their kids and grandkids without having to mask up. A lot of grandparents have been isolated from their families for too long. Drive-by anniversary or birthday parties, or waving through windows isn’t the same as holding a grandchild in your lap.

As more people become fully vaccinated, it should lead to more restrictions being relaxed, and more families and friends being reunited.