4 things to consider before traveling abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. As vaccine distribution continues in the United States, many Americans are eager to travel overseas. . But is it really normal to start traveling abroad again? Here are four important ethical factors to consider before deciding to travel. . 1. Vaccinated travelers could still transmit COVID-19 to others. . If someone in the United States goes to another country, they may have an asymptomatic infection that they take with them to the other country, which puts people at risk, William Miller, Ohio State University, at Huffpost . 2. It is not known how effective vaccines are in protecting against variants of COVID-19. Other countries may have higher rates of virus variants which are more transmissible and, in some cases, may cause more serious illness… Transmission of these variants to and from vaccinated people is a worrying possibility, William Miller, Ohio State University, at Huffpost. 3. Travelers can put a strain on countries with vulnerable health care systems and fewer immunization resources. While most people in rich countries will likely have access to a vaccine this year, those in poor countries will likely have to wait years to get vaccinated, Nicole Hassoun, of Cornell University, at Huffpost. 4. The more patient you are now, the more manageable and safer your trips will be in the future. As vaccine deployment progresses, there will be much less community transmission, less likelihood of infection, and less likelihood of new variants emerging … This will likely make tourism more manageable for host countries and will significantly reduce the risk you may pose to others, Gabriel Lázaro Muñoz, Baylor Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, at Huffpost