The Traveler: May 2021
From helpful information regarding COVID-19 vaccination passports and avoiding street crime, to tips for overcoming travel anxiety, catch up on global health, security and travel-related topics. Also in this issue, read about how Assist America evacuated a member from the Bahamas.

16 important do's and don'ts for getting your COVID-19 vaccine
How to be a rockstar at your upcoming coronavirus vaccination appointment.

What to do if you lose your vaccination card
If something happens to your vaccine card or you lose it, you should first contact the site where you were vaccinated and ask for a replacement. Wherever you were vaccinated -- even if it's a pharmacy or drive-thru vaccination site -- will have your records on file.

Why it's important to get the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
Experts explain why, exactly, it's important to got both doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Cruise Ships Poised to Resume Sailing
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that if companies can guarantee that 95 percent of their passengers and 98 percent of their crew are fully vaccinated, cruise ships will be allowed to sail in U.S. waters again as early as July 2021, more than a year after the CDC issued a "no-sail" edict due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDC issues new outdoor mask guidance for fully vaccinated people
Fully vaccinated people can now unmask at small outdoor gatherings, or when dining outside with friends from multiple households. The CDC is telling unvaccinated people that they still need to wear a mask at such gatherings.

Assist America's Response to Our Members' Questions
Thank you for submitting your COVID-19 and Assist America service-related questions. Click below to view a short video from our Operations Manager, Colin Quinn.

CDC and FDA recommend US pause use of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine over blood clot concerns
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration are recommending that the United States pause the use of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine over six reported US cases of a "rare and severe" type of blood clot.

Assist Alert: Volcanic Eruption on the Island of St. Vincent
The La Soufrière volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent erupted early this morning sending nearly a four-mile high plume of ash into the air.

CDC: Fully vaccinated people can travel in U.S. without tests or quarantines
People who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can travel freely in the U.S., as long as they remain masked on planes, buses and trains, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday.

CDC Issues New Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Travelers
The CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) presented new guidelines on April 2, 2021 surrounding travel for those that have been fully vaccinated which state that fully vaccinated travelers can travel safely within the United States and U.S. territories without the need to get tested before or after travel, unless their destination requires it.

Newly vaccinated seniors leading surge in travel plans
According to travel agents, newly vaccinated seniors are leading the surge in travel plans as they make up for lost travel time in 2020.

Is Travel Coming Back? Airports Have Busiest Days Since March 2020
Airline executives said they are starting to see a path out of the coronavirus pandemic as more passengers resume travel, following a weekend when airport volumes hit their highest levels in a year.

COVID-19 Update: Ask Assist America
We invite you to submit your questions about the coronavirus, travel during the pandemic, vaccines, and anything else COVID or Assist America related. 

Assist Alert: SITA Data Security Incident Affecting Frequent Flyer Information
Passenger data from multiple airlines around the world has been compromised after hackers breached servers belonging to SITA, a global information technology company.

Covid vaccine: Germany urged to back AstraZeneca jab for over-65s
In a BBC interview, Carsten Watzl, head of the German Society for Immunology, predicted regulators would have to reverse their decision to not recommend the jab for older people. He urged Angela Merkel to have the vaccine live on TV to prove it is safe. Germany's vaccine commission is currently reviewing its recommendation.

CDC won't recommend requiring COVID tests for domestic flights 'at this time'
"At this time, CDC is not recommending required point of departure testing for domestic travel," the public health agency has stated. "As part of our close monitoring of the pandemic, in particular the continued spread of variants, we will continue to review public health options for containing and mitigating spread of COVID-19 in the travel space."

The Traveler: February 2021
From helpful information regarding transporatation safety measures and online security during the pandemic, to tips for dealing with cabin fever during quarantine, catch up on global health, security and travel-related topics. Also in this issue, find out how Assist America helped an injured member with cancer during the pandemic.

What if you test positive for covid-19 abroad? Here’s what travelers need to know.
Here’s how to ensure you have a backup plan in place for a potential quarantine if you test positive for the coronavirus abroad, and what experts say you should keep in mind about rapid tests.

COVID-19 Update: Mistakes to Avoid While Traveling During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaped many of our travel decisions over the past several months and will continue to do so well into 2021. However, people can still travel safely by taking a few precautions that they might have overlooked while planning their next trip. Below are some crucial mistakes to avoid while traveling abroad during the pandemic.