Why You’ll Need to Wear a Mask After Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine, According to Doctors

Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, was quoted in articles on why people still need to wear a mask after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. “For maximum protection, you need to get both shots,” Russo says. The first shot helps your body recognize the virus and primes your immune system for it, he explains. The second shot makes that immune response stronger. “Protection from a vaccine doesn’t happen instantly,” Russo says. “In general, you can expect to reach the ideal level of immunity five to six weeks after your first shot, provided you receive both injections.”