What can I do after I get the COVID-19 vaccine? CDC guidance coming soon

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to provide new guidance for people who are fully-vaccinated by the end of this week.

A person is fully vaccinated after one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or after two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Close to 9 percent of North Carolina has been fully vaccinated.

According to a statement on the CDC's website, "it takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick."

While more complete guidance is ahead, people can expect to wear masks in public spaces for months to come, experts have predicted. Even after people are vaccinated, it is important to practice social distancing and hand hygiene, especially in public spaces or whenever you are around people not in your own household.

At least one change to guidelines is expected -- that small groups of people who have been fully vaccinated should be able to safely gather inside homes.

All NC frontline workers now eligible for vaccines, people with health conditions in 3 weeks

Gov. Roy Cooper, who will get his first dose on Wednesday, said people in Group 4 with underlying health conditions that put them more at risk, will be able to sign up for a vaccine by March 24.