New York and Connecticut are hours away from lifting mask mandates for vaccinated people and scrapping capacity limits at many businesses.

Starting Wednesday, fully vaccinated people won't have to wear masks in stores such as Target, Walmart, Starbucks and Trader Joes.

Businesses including retail stores, hair salons, fitness centers and family entertainment centers will no longer have to operate with limits.

Dr. Jurate Ivanaviciene, an infectious disease specialist from Hartford HealthCare Saint-Vincent's Medical Center, says she's very happy for the people who have been vaccinated and can go without masks. However, she is concerned for those who haven't been vaccinated.

Graduations are also back. Molloy College held a bit of a different type of ceremony, but parents still got to see their kids get their diplomas. Health officials say the key to making things like graduations and proms happen is getting young people vaccinated.

Dr. Adhi Sharma, chief medical officer for Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, says parents should rely on a trusted medical professional to get guidance on whether or not to give their kids the vaccine.

French drugmaker Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline are seeking vaccine authorization for late 2021.

MORE: Mask or no mask? Here's a list of where major retailers stand on mask policy