By Irwin Redlener, MD and Sean Hansen

I wanted to share my latest piece with Sean Hansen in The Daily Beast on how the CDC can clear up its messaging, and get Americans back to the things they miss the most. Last week’s guidance from the CDC for vaccinated individuals is based on strong scientific evidence – but it has also led to confusion for businesses, state and local policymakers, and individuals.

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Adding to this public confusion is the fact that whatever federal agencies or public health leaders say, states actually have the ultimate authority over local guidelines. Unfortunately, private businesses—as well as health officials and others at the state and local level—were largely caught off-guard by the new policy from the CDC. And the question remains: in addition to freedom for those who are vaccinated, will the new federal guidance encourage millions of unvaccinated individuals to stop wearing masks or disregard state policies?

As vaccinated Americans begin to resume some degree of normalcy, how will we know, for instance, if the person sitting next to us in a theater, sports arena, or restaurant is actually vaccinated—or just a “resistor” anxious to get back to normal?

And will the CDC guidelines actually help Americans get back to the activities they missed most? 

Do you have questions about the latest CDC guidance? Tweet me at @IrwinRedlenerMD.

Op-ed published in The Daily Beast.