It’s that time of year. The sun is shining, birds are flying, and everyone is restless inside. Now that the spring/summer feeling is spreading across the country, many are wondering what the season will look like this year. Will we be locked-down like last year, or is it possible that stores and beaches will start to reopen? As we get closer and closer, it becomes more likely that summer travel will be viable, with a few granted setbacks.  

Most of this newfound optimism stems from the success of the vaccine rollout. Today,  Beckers HR announced that over seventy million Americans have already been fully vaccinated, which accounts for 21.9% of the population. Another uplifting fact is that Pfizer and Moderna are on track to produce 300 million doses by the end of July. With these vaccination numbers on the rise, the 2021 summer season looks very promising. In addition, many countries like Croatia, Italy, France, and Iceland are lifting their travel bans during May and June. Hopefully more countries will begin to follow suit and open their borders to the general public. These lifted bans will greatly improve the mental and social health of the overall world, since relatives and friends will finally be able to reunite. Many have gone months without seeing their family in person—the isolation they feel can cause legitimate suffering. The rise in vaccinations make summer travel ever more enticing, however the continued presence of the coronavirus creates a persistent threat of illness to those leaving quarantine. Before we leave our homes to reconnect with the world around us and the people we miss dearly, it’s important to acknowledge the potential dangers of returning to normal life. 

One thing to keep in mind is that getting vaccinated doesn’t guarantee immunity. The COVID-19 vaccines weren’t designed to prevent infections altogether; rather, they were intended to prevent symptomatic infections. As a result, getting the vaccine will only stave off symptoms and reduce transmission rates. It does not guarantee that you but won’t spread it to others. Therefore, it’s still recommended to wear a mask and practice social distancing. If people don’t follow these precautions, then infection rates will start to increase again, and all of the time we’ve spent in quarantine will amount to nothing.

The summer of 2021 has the potential to be the much-needed stopping point in this dark period of history. Widespread vaccine distribution, combined with precautions taken by many Americans, have slowed down the spread of the coronavirus and given many the opportunity to travel again. This newfound freedom is definitely something that all Americans should take advantage of—it would be a great boost to the social and emotional health of many individuals to reunite with their family and friends, and with the proper precautions, there won’t be any real risk. Thanks to all of the actions we’ve taken as a society, we will finally have the chance to return to the way things were. However, if you do plan to travel in the coming months, make sure to stay safe out there!