They barely completed the two weeks required to achieve immunity after applying the second dose of the COVID vaccine – 19, grandparents Mercedes and Pedro López traveled from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to meet their grandchildren.
“Before the pandemic, we drove once a month to see them, but when COVID broke out we locked ourselves in the house ”, says Mercedes.
The weekend was a moment of joy in their lives because after much time they were able to hug their grandchildren. “We have 4 grandchildren of 21, 19, 18 and 9 years; and a 4-year-old great-grandson. ”
Mercedes says her husband very much missed playing with his youngest grandson and great-grandson. “We were very happy to meet again. They made us a roast beef to celebrate, “says the grandmother, who is also happy because neither she nor her husband were infected with coronavirus during the height of the pandemic.
Mercedes has 71 year old; and Pedro, 75. “My husband was the one who said that we would not go to see the grandchildren until we had the second dose of the vaccine. And we were barely two weeks after putting it on, we went to visit them. It was a very beautiful celebration ”, he says.
And he adds that with two doses of vaccine they feel safer. Anyway, the excited grandmother tells that the celebration for her 50 wedding anniversary is going to have to wait for the pandemic to be more controlled.
Across the country, adults older than 65 have had priority in the application of the vaccine against COVID – 19, since the immunization campaign began.
In California, through April 2, on 36% of those older than 65 years have already vaccinate or as well as the 38. 7% of people among the 18 and 49 years; and 24. 8% among those of 50 to 64 years.
After applying the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine, Azucena and her husband Óscar Toruño count the minutes to meet the Easter Sunday with his grandchildren.
“We have a week left to be fully immunized, but we are going to meet being very careful, wearing masks and keeping our distance,” he says.
Azucena is 70 years old and her husband Óscar, 82 years. “We are very happy to see the grandchildren. We have not been able to hug them for a long time. ”
Talk that her 7-year-old grandson told her,“ Grandma I hope that next time you can hug. I can’t stand without giving you a hug ”.
Toruño’s grandparents have 4 grandchildren of 11, 8, 7 and 1 years. “They come from San Diego to look for the Easter eggs in the backyard of the house here in Cudahy (a city in southeastern Los Angeles County),” she says.
Both she and her husband have already been vaccinated they feel more confident and calm. “We have to continue with the care, but there is some relief because the worst is already over.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reports until April 2 that the highest number of virus cases with 89, 124, were recorded in people aged between 65 and 79 years; and among those older than 80, they had more than 32, 451.
In its guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that they can meet with others who are also already immunized with their two doses, in small groups at home without masks and physical distancing. And they can also meet with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at lower risk of severe disease.
They also indicate that fully vaccinated people do not need to get quarantine or take a COVID test if they have been exposed, unless they show symptoms. Either way it is recommended to monitor your symptoms by 11 days.
“You can visit your grandparents if you are vaccinated and so are they,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky during a press conference at the White House.
“If the grandparents have been vaccinated, they can visit their daughter and family even when they have not been vaccinated, but as long as they are not at risk of severe disease.”
Vaccinated people should still wear a mask and exercise social distance in public places and avoid large and medium gatherings.