Expert: Tips to safely gather for Thanksgiving this year

People who are not vaccinated still have some time to be fully protected by this Thanksgiving.

Health experts say if you can get an appointment for the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week, you can celebrate this Thanksgiving without a mask.

Families should take extra care with children who are not vaccinated, as they may need special accommodations to keep everyone safe, according to Dr. Rachel Roper, an ECU professor of microbiology and immunology.

"Keep them farther away. Keep them masked," said Roper.

Unvaccinated children eager to see their grandparents risk spreading the virus to them, especially if all parties aren't vaccinated.

Roper said anyone gathering inside should be vaccinated.

"You want to think about how likely you are to catch COVID and how likely other guests are to have COVID," she said. "What is their exposure?"

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Many families stayed home last year because of the pandemic, but this year some families are considering hosting small indoor gatherings.

"Cookout over the grill. Watch some football," said Reese Morris, whose family is fully vaccinated.

Marwan Kahlifa says he's taking his family shopping this year. Everyone except his children are vaccinated, and he's not worried about transmission.

"I challenge COVID," he said. "I challenge that virus."

The Pfizer vaccine is available to children ages 12 to 17 and will likely soon be available to a younger age group.

Kahlifa says he plans on getting his children vaccinated.