WORCESTER, Mass. - The CDC is pulling down guidance a day after it was posted.

Once again, the CDC encouraged all Americans to use caution when celebrating the upcoming holidays. The organization recommended gathering outdoors or remotely, regardless of vaccination status. 

"The best way to ensure that we will be in good shape as we get into the winter, would be to get more and more people vaccinated," Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said. "That was misinterpreted as my saying we can't spend Christmas with our families."

On Monday night, Dr. Fauci clarified that even though he wants more people vaccinated, it doesn't mean there can't be any traditional celebrations. 

"I encourage people, particularly the vaccinated people, to have a good normal Christmas with your family," Dr. Fauci said. 

Dr. Fauci plans on doing the same. 

What You Need To Know

  • CDC took down its original guidance regarding the upcoming holiday season
  • Dr. Fauci wants more people vaccinated, but doesn't mean people can't celebrate the holidays
  • Local health expert enourages fully vaccinated people to gather with family, said unvaccinated people should get tested before gathering
  • People without a booster shot are still considered fully vaccinated 

However, that type of miscommunication can be confusing and leave people with more questions than answers.

"I hate mixed messages," Dr. Matilde Castiel, Commissioner of Health and Human Services in Worcester, said.  "I hope that people understand the guidance."

Dr. Castiel agreed the guidance is unclear. 

"I think certainly vaccinated people can be together and celebrate together," Dr. Castiel said. "I'm always worried about unvaccinated people, but they deserve to have a family reunion. So, what I would suggest is they all need to be tested before they go with their families."

She said it's important to point out public health data is always changing, leaving room for the guidance to change as well. 

"We are not out of the woods," Dr. Castiel said. "We don't know what the next virus will be."

With booster shots becoming available for some Americans, Dr. Castiel said the definition of fully vaccinated is still the same: two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer shot or one dose of Johnson and Johnson. ​