• We have already begun writing updated protocols that will govern re-opening services and easing current restrictions. This includes developing plans for our MOST™ supports in both Maryland and Virginia, as well as addressing visits to all of our locations, including JFGH group homes.
• For these purposes, JFGH defines fully vaccinated as both doses of the vaccine and a period of four (4) weeks after the second dose for the body to fully develop antibodies/immunity. This time period is taken from current science and research. We are aware of a wide range of timeframes offered in the scientific literature, from as few as seven days to as long as six weeks. We will use four weeks.
• We note that while people receiving JFGH supports and our staff will be fully vaccinated, the overwhelming majority of others across the broader community won’t have even received their first vaccine dose for what is likely to be weeks and months. As a practical matter, this means we will not immediately return to ‘business as usual,’ and will continue to take a conservative approach to mitigating exposure risks.
• As it stands now, we believe that approximately 80% of the community having been fully vaccinated is necessary for a return to unrestricted activity and anything resembling our ‘old normal.’ We will continue in the meanwhile, for example, to emphasize the need for appropriate masking, hand hygiene and physical distancing, as well as very carefully assessing the places we visit for safety protocols that address crowds/groups, their vaccination requirements, and the like.