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| Science & Technology |
| Vaccines Are Great. Masks Make Them Even Better. |
| 2021-07-30 |
| h/t Hot Air [The Atlantic] - America’s split with masks turned out to be a brief hiatus. After getting their shots in the spring and early summer, many people figured they could dump their face coverings for good—a sentiment the CDC crystallized in May, when the agency gave fully immunized people its blessing to largely dispense with masking, indoors and out. Yesterday, the agency pivoted back, recommending that even fully vaccinated people wear masks under certain high-risk circumstances, including in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging, Director Rochelle Walensky said in a press briefing. (She specified places where new case numbers exceed 50 per 100,000 people in the past seven days; that currently includes about two-thirds of U.S. counties.) With an ultra-contagious SARS-CoV-2 variant rampaging, face coverings are being called upon to once again supplement the protection offered by vaccines. The CDC’s decision, which many public-health researchers have been anticipating for weeks, might look like a flip-flop or a fumble, some sort of masking mea culpa. But to me, and the experts I talked with, redonning masks (or simply keeping them on, as many people have) is not some shameful regression to the dark ages of the pre-vaccination era. Nor is it an indictment of the COVID-19 vaccines, which are doing an extraordinary job of curtailing the global burden of disease. Instead, it’s a doubling down on two defenses that we know work, and work well together. Masks, after all, are reemerging in response to the fast-changing conditions around us—offering another layer of protection at a time when we need it most, in much the same way we seek out umbrellas when it rains, sunscreen when it’s sunny, and better security systems when our neighborhood crime rates tick up. "With Delta being such a dominant force, we need to include every layer we can think of," Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University, told me. The vaccines are excellent. But while so many people remain vulnerable, and the virus continues to shape-shift, shots can’t shoulder the burden of protection alone. Our understanding of masks is evolving; for now, they still have a crucial role to play, as a partner to the shots we'll be depending on long term. Basically the reason vaccinated people are asked to wear masks is because: while they are safe from symptomatic disease, they can be asymptomatic carries who can infect unvaccinated people. Now, one might ask "So what, is is their [unvaccinated] choice to be idiots - why should I care?" That's because when they get Covid and cannot pay for their treatments (The average cost to treat a hospitalized patient with coronavirus is $30,000*, according to a study: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/09/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-coronavirus-treatment-costs.html), guess where the $$$ will come from? *That's also why your government (and mine) push vaccinations for all they are worth. Costs of vaccination are $47 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-be-paying-average-of-47-per-person-for-pfizer-moderna-vaccines/) i.e. 1/640 of treatment. |
| Posted by:g(r)omgoru |
| #16 #11 By all accounts it should but since they're all in clearly why not come about for the full broadside? |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2021-07-30 20:22 |
| #15 Germophobia has won the day. I think perhaps the Universal Health Care insurance payors are pushing the mask and vaccine mandates. They lose money with every treatment. Toward universal health coverage in the post-COVID-19 era |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2021-07-30 10:47 |
| #14 Keep in mind that this virus isn't going anywhere. It'll be with us for decades if not forever. So any 'temporary' COVID measures put into place now are going to be permanent. And I'm not going to wear a mask for the rest of my life. F*^k that. |
| Posted by: Angstrom 2021-07-30 10:16 |
| #13 At least they're not mandating 'Essential Oils'....yet. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2021-07-30 08:50 |
| #12 The proper mask is also important. "EPA Researchers Test Effectiveness of Face Masks, Disinfection Methods Against COVID-19" eg. The most commonly used "Procedure / Surgical" paper masks scored only 38.5% effective and the commonly seen reusable/washable 3 layer knitted cotton mask scored the lowest at @ 26.5% effective filtration. If you mask, or as we do shopping ....Go N-95 or better and wearing your Sun glasses or face shield is actually a good additional layer of protection. Remember: "Basically the reason vaccinated people are asked to wear masks is because: while they are safe from symptomatic disease, they can be asymptomatic carries who can infect un-vaccinated people." aka Typhoid Mary's. Regarding To Vax or Not: If the Vax is the solution then why are the 3 Vax'd extended family sick right now, the eldest 50'ish hospitalized then sent home doing 5lt O2, the 15 y/o 102 fever and sick for 2 days and then jackass who was VAX'd and said he couldn't have it because he was Vax'd in June. Plus why is the CDC and actual Vax makers contradicting each other about booster shots are needed in 6 months. CDC, FDA contradict Pfizer on COVID-19 vaccine booster ... "Drug makers and some scientists say people will likely need a booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccines and possibly additional shots each year, just like for the seasonal flu. Sure sounds like a FLU scenario where every season requires and different strain shot. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2021-07-30 07:40 |
| #11 Masks are their joker to keep the scam going by scaring enough clowns to allow another round of fake elections How does that work, P2K? Honest question. I should think the next election would be an easier win with more dead Right wingers? |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2021-07-30 06:52 |
| #10 Oh how America cares: Heroin kills but the GIVERNment passes out needles. Opioids are addictive and deadly yet passed out dope like candy, COVID is said to be deadly but over one million illegals have be pushed into America by the current administration….. regardless of where anyone’s view of vaccines are it is obvious to me that masks do not work to stop a virus |
| Posted by: Airandee 2021-07-30 06:40 |
| #9 Why the masks again? It's simple stupid, they want another round of mail in of fake voters for the next election. As the Rant posting the other day, they know they're f*d if any integrity is in the voting process. Masks are their joker to keep the scam going by scaring enough clowns to allow another round of fake elections. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2021-07-30 06:28 |
| #8 Why Is a Toxic Vaccine Being Mandated? |
| Posted by: Shereth Shavirt9128 2021-07-30 06:00 |
| #7 /\ I believe getting vaccinated makes one more independent of governing elites. Yes, I agree. 'Government compliance' would have emptied the Warsaw ghetto without a shot being fired. We must follow the orders of the elites. " |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2021-07-30 05:22 |
| #6 Lets cut to the chase Besoeker. I believe getting vaccinated makes one more independent of governing elites. You, apparently, believe otherwise. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-07-30 05:06 |
| #5 /\ If you find this hypothesis plausible, you may also enjoy reading 'The Sinking of the Armenia' in today's Burg. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2021-07-30 04:52 |
| #4 p.s. #2 You do realize that, if you get sick, you might take a place of somebody more deserving: like somebody who recently arrived through your South border? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-07-30 04:41 |
| #3 ^When they have "better use" for the money. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-07-30 04:23 |
| #2 Not discounting G's comment entirely, but when did our gov't (US Gov't) begin to care about costs ? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2021-07-30 04:19 |
| #1 On and on it goes. With this sort of thinking it will never end which is the intent. This will go on for years playing this game of woe. Germophobia has won the day. |
| Posted by: Dale 2021-07-30 04:14 |