New Guidelines from the CDC

As we now approach the one year mark of the Covid-19 emergency declaration, we wanted to provide some new guidelines, recently shared from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  We have all had a very long and enduring year filled with many changes and challenges.

Although we have been facing the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic on a daily basis throughout the past twelve months, we have remained strong as a Tribal community and have persevered, even with the virus at its highest peaks at times in our county and surrounding communities.  This perseverance was accomplished and maintained through swift actions, planning and collaboration with our partners at FEMA, CDC, MDPH and IHS and also everyone in our Tribe pulling together in support of the public health guidance provided through the MWT Emergency Operations  Center.

From the onset, we have worked hard to keep our Tribal community safe from the virus through the initial testing and PPE to isolation quarters and supplies to those in quarantine, coordinated through the EM Dept.  Being the first Tribe in the region as a direct recipient under FEMA, we have been able to assist neighboring Tribes and other Tribes across the country through our plan utilization.  The positive cases within our Tribal Community have remained relatively low in comparison to the community at large, including hospitalizations and deaths.  We have now reached the point of being able to vaccinate all of our Tribal members 18 years of age and over including immediate household members.   In comparison to the State and County we have far exceeded their phased approach, we all should ensure to take advantage of the opportunities that we have in place with vaccine availability and support at IHS.

Although there is hope on the horizon with the vaccinations, testing and PPE availability, we must all still ensure to continue in following the standard public health guidance that is in place.  The virus is still highly contagious and deadly and we must continue to do our part to ensure that our most vulnerable members remain safe. Please see below for the most up-to-date guidance from the CDC regarding vaccinations.

For testing, vaccine inquiries and appointments, please contact the Mashpee Health Service Unit (IHS) at: 508-539-2561.  

For Covid related resource needs, please contact Mashpee Wampanoag Emergency Management at: 508-477-0208 Ext 103

When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated: How to Protect Yourself and Others

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.

We’re still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19. After you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces until we know more.

Have You Been Fully Vaccinated?

People are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or

• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If it has been less than 2 weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully protected. Keep taking all prevention steps until you are fully vaccinated.

What’s Changed: If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.

• You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.

  • However, if you live in a group setting and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.

What Hasn’t Changed:

• For now, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You should still take steps to protect yourself and others in many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Take these precautions whenever you are:

  • In public

  • Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household

  • Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk

  • You should still avoid medium or large-sized gatherings.

  • You should still delay domestic and international travel. If you do travel, you’ll still need to follow CDC requirements and recommendations.

  • You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.

  • You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace.

Workplace Guidance:  Fully Vaccinated workplace staff must continue to wear masks and follow distancing and workplace guidance.  Fully vaccinated workplace staff only need to be quarantined should they develop symptoms.  Fully vaccinated workplace staff should continue to participate in routine workplace screening programs and testing if available.