This is the seventh of a series of discussions in Spanish about the new COVID-19 vaccines.

In this lesson, we practice discussing the importance of following the recommendations to stop the spread of the coronavirus even after vaccination in Spanish. Then, we practice those recommendations in Spanish. 

More Lessons on Spanish for COVID-19

Members: All lessons on the Covid Vaccines can be found here: The Flu – Members

The primary purpose of these lessons is to practice useful Spanish vocabulary and phrases when discussing vaccination against Covid-19. Much of the discussion refers to the mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna and the information regarding all the Covid-19 vaccines may change as we learn more. Therefore, when speaking with patients, you should always use information provided by current trusted medical sources. 

LEVEL - ADVANCED

¿Puedo volver a la vida normal?1:52

Pregunta:

¿Puedo volver a la vida normal después de vacunarme?

Respuesta: 

Aunque la vacuna evite que usted se enferme de Covid, no sabemos si evita que usted transmita el virus. Por lo tanto, es muy importante que usted siga las recomendaciones para evitar la propagación del virus.  Y como algunas de las nuevas variantes del virus parecen ser más transmisibles, es aún más importante que sigamos estas recomendaciones.

Use mascarilla que cubra la nariz y la boca.
Manténgase al menos a 2 metros de distancia de los demás.
Evite las multitudes.
Lávese las manos con frecuencia.Aunque y evitar2:39

Aunque la vacuna evite que usted se enferme de Covid, no sabemos si evita que usted transmita el virus.

evitar
to prevent

enfermarse
to get sick

transmitir
to transmit or spread

Aunque la vacuna evite que usted se enferme de Covid…
Even if the vaccine prevents you from getting sick with Covid…

Aunque la vacuna evita que usted se enferme de Covid…
Although the vaccine prevents you from getting sick with Covid…

• Here, we use AUNQUE + SUBJUNTIVO, to express a POSSIBILITY.
• We use AUNQUE + INDICATIVO to express a CERTAINTY. 
• We cover this use of the subjunctive in our free lesson: Quiz # 4 – The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses. Spanish Grammar members, see: Subj14 How and Where
• EVITAR, acts as a VERB OF INFLUENCE and is followed by the subjunctive.
• We cover this use of the subjunctive in our free lesson: Quiz #2 – The Subjunctive in Noun Clauses Spanish Grammar members, see: Subj04 Subjunctive Following Verbs of Influence.

No sabemos si evita que usted transmita el virus.
We do not know if it prevents you from transmitting the virus.

• We follow NO SABEMOS SI with the INDICATIVE. (Recall, we do NOT follow SI with the PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE.) We cover when to use the indicative vs the subjunctive following SI in IF-THEN STATEMENTS in our free lesson: Quiz #5 – The Subjunctive in Conditional Statements and More. Spanish Grammar members, see:  Subj15 Conditional Statements and Subj16 Conditional Statements.

Aunque la vacuna evite que usted se enferme de Covid, no sabemos si evita que usted transmita el virus.
Even if the vaccine prevents you from getting sick with Covid, we do not know if it prevents you from transmitting the virus.

Evitar la propagación del virus 5:29

Por lo tanto, es muy importante que usted siga las recomendaciones para evitar la propagación del virus.

la propagación / transmisión del virus
the spread of the virus

Por lo tanto, es muy importante que usted siga las recomendaciones para evitar la propagación del virus.
Therefore, it is very important that you follow the recommendations to prevent the spread of the virus.

• Recall, the impersonal expression, ES IMPORTANTE QUE, expresses JUDGEMENT about what comes next and is always followed by the SUBJUNCTIVE. We cover this use of the subjunctive in our free lesson: Quiz #2 – The Subjunctive in Noun Clauses. Spanish Grammar members, see: Subj05 Influence Emotion and Judgments

Parecen ser más transmisibles6:37

Y como algunas de las nuevas variantes del virus parecen ser más transmisibles, es aún más importante que sigamos estas recomendaciones.

Y como algunas de las nuevas variantes… 
And since some of the new variants… 

• Note how she uses COMO to say SINCE. 

transmisible / contagioso 
transmissible / contagious

Parecen ser más transmisibles / contagiosas
They appear to be more transmissible / contagious

Es aún más importante que sigamos estas recomendaciones
It is even more important to follow these recommendations

aún más
even more

• Once again, the impersonal expression, ES IMPORTANTE QUE is followed by the SUBJUNCTIVE.

Y como algunas de las nuevas variantes del virus parecen ser más transmisibles, es aún más importante que sigamos estas recomendaciones.
And since some of the new variants of the virus appear to be more transmissible, it is even more important that we follow these recommendations.

Las recomendaciones9:08

• Use mascarilla que cubra la nariz y la boca.
• Manténgase al menos 2 metros de distancia de los demás.
• Evite las multitudes.
• Lávese las manos con frecuencia.

Use mascarilla que cubra la nariz9:21

Use mascarilla que cubra la nariz y la boca.
Use a mask that covers your nose and mouth.

• Here, we are describing the type of mask we desire, rather than referring to one particular mask. Therefore, we use the SUBJUNCTIVE to describe this UNSPECIFIED NOUN. We cover this use of the subjunctive in our free lesson: Quiz # 3 – The Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses. Spanish Grammar members, see: Subj07 Unspecified Nouns

la mascarilla, el cubrebocas, el tapabocas
face mask

Evite las multitudes10:55

las multitudes, las aglomeraciones
crowds

Evite las multitudes / aglomeraciones
Avoid crowds.

Manténgase a 2 metros de distancia11:25

Manténgase al menos a 2 metros de distancia de los demás.

• The A here is optional. 

mantenerse
to keep oneself

los demás
others

de distancia de los demás
away from others

• Recall, we used DE DISTANCIA in the prior lesson, Vital Talk in Spanish – Communicating Bad News, we used DE DISTANCIA to say, AWAY.

Estoy a 5 horas de distancia
I am 5 hours away.

Manténgase al menos a 6 pies o 2 metros de distancia de los demás.
Keep at least 6 feet o 2 feet away from others.

Lavarse las manos12:57

Lávese las manos con frecuencia.
Wash your hands often.

• Here we use a REFLEXIVE VERB with LAS MANOS.  Learn more in our lesson: Verbs with the Body in Spanish. 

En la próxima lección para miembros13:26

Es un buen momento para destacar (This is a good time to point out) that we do not know if vaccination prevents transmission of the virus. Therefore, as more data become available, we will update recommendations with regards to the risk of transmitting the virus after vaccination. 

In the next member lesson, we will practice saying the following in Spanish:

13:55

1. Slowing down the spread of the virus is the best way to slow down the emergence of new variants.
2. Given that the new variants may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine it is even more important that we follow these recommendations.
3. As more information becomes available, we will update these recommendations.

Repaso: Pregunta y respuesta14:40References

• CDC: Vacunas contra el Covid-19
  • Preguntas y Respuestas

The following is a great series of YouTube videos by drvellermd.com explaining the pathophysiology and trial results of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.  They have videos covering a lot more on Covid, including the other vaccines.

• Vacunas Covid 19 de Dr. Veller

Related Lessons

• Spanish for COVID-19
• FL04 Flu Q and A – Flu Vaccine – Who, Why, and When (premium)
• FL05 Flu Q and A – Flu Vaccine – How It Works and Side Effects (premium)

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortéz, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala who provided most of the Spanish for this lesson. And special thanks to my friend, Sonja Um-Siri, who asked the questions in this lesson. Sonja also reviews almost every lesson I publish. I could not do this without her.