With millions of us now vaccinated, the urge to travel to see family and friends, or to just escape for a while, is powerful.

If you decide to travel by air, even if you’re fully vaccinated, you should still stick with safety protocols. Be sure to bring comfortable masks (and have plenty to spare). You might even wear two masks at a time. You’ll also want to bring hand sanitizer and wipes. It’s best to be cautious, so assume that all common surfaces may be contaminated. Wipe down your airline seat, tray table, armrests, seat buckles, video screen, window shade and air vents. Sanitize or wash your hands frequently. Also, be sure to check the requirements of the destination to which you’re traveling. Many countries and territories outside the continental U.S. require travelers to show proof of a recent negative result from a high-quality COVID test at their borders. And if you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, take a photo of your vaccine certificate and bring it with you.

Even if you’re vaccinated, you’ll still want to avoid destinations with high infection rates. The CDC has a list of destinations for both travelers and clinicians that outlines the COVID-19 infection levels in specific areas. The CDC also has health notices, vaccine credentials and medical guidelines for travelers to specific regions. There’s information on preventable diseases in the area, and even a recommended packing list for that specific area. That information can be found here.
So many of us are taking to the air again, but we still need remain vigilant. By incorporating simple measures, we can keep ourselves and those we love safe.