"In the meantime, Smith says it’s important for people to understand that they still need to do everything they can to avoid getting COVID-19. That means staying up to date with vaccinations and taking some basic precautions, such as wearing high-quality masks indoors when cases are high, especially in crowded places and on public transportation. 'I wish we lived in a world where getting repeat infections doesn’t matter,' says Al-Aly, 'but the reality is that‘s not the case.'"