© 2026 ABC News

The booster shots have also been shown to provide strong protection from severe symptoms.

\"The vast majority of breakthrough cases will be mild or asymptomatic,\" he said.

Brownstein also emphasized social distancing before traveling to see families as it would reduce the risk of catching the virus from someone outside their household.

\"PHOTO:
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
PHOTO: People wait in long lines to take a free COVID-19 test at a local fire station in Washington, D.C., Dec. 20, 2021.
>

While there are long lines at testing sites and shortages of tests around the country, medical experts told ABC News that getting a test will give families peace of mind and prevent spread if they gather.

Dr. June McKoy, a professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, told ABC News that even fully vaccinated individuals should get a test and avoid gatherings if the test comes back positive.

McKoy emphasized that the virus is still dangerous for children under five, the elderly and those with immunocompromised systems.

\"Families need to be open before they have visitors,\" she told ABC News. \"They need to know if you are putting someone at risk.\"

\"PHOTO:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
PHOTO: A healthcare worker administers a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to a person at a drive-thru site in Tropical Park on Dec. 16, 2021, in Miami.
>

McKoy recommended that indoor gatherings be kept to a small number, especially if it's difficult to ventilate the room. She also urged family members to wear masks inside if there is an unvaccinated child or very elderly to ensure they are protected.

Removing the masks during meals is OK, according to McKoy, who said she plans on wearing a mask when she visits her family this week.

Ultimately, McKoy said it will come down to a person's own sense of risk aversion and willingness to adhere to vaccinations and protective protocols.

She did note that holiday gatherings with family are important for one's mental health and said taking such steps to enjoy the company of family during the holidays would be worth the sacrifice.

\"We've all been waiting for [the holidays] and this is the important one. We all have to make sure to make it safe,\" she said.

Anyone who needs help scheduling a free vaccine appointment can log onto vaccines.gov.

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