Today the CDC released guidelines about masking for FULLY vaccinated people. This indicates that the vaccines do a really job (which we already know and celebrate!). This post is not against the CDC the new guidelines point strongly to the data that vaccines work really well. My worry is not with the CDC and colleagues that work there. (Shout-out to you CDC friends who are doing massive amounts of work!) My worry is that this will turn into not being about the vaccines anymore and turn into more individualized-styled-actions, rather than collective-solidarity. In other words, I think some will be given an inch, and take a mile. Why do I think that? Because thats what we have seen the past year anyways.
Here are some thoughts:
Was the motivation because they wanted to improve vaccine uptake? So, these new guidelines will be an incentive to get the vaccines? I dont know, maybe. Will that work as an incentive? I dont think so.
The new guidelines suggest continuing to wear a mask if you are in large groups. Its the honor system which I dont trust anymore. This will disadvantage businesses, schools, etc to enforce we all know that results in cashiers being yelled at.
35% OF THE US HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED. (46% have received one dose, which is what you see in Picture 1). ONLY 35%. We are nowhere near the 60% threshold we need to be (thats the threshold where we really see a difference in transmission rates in other countries who are already there like Israel). Look at the picture we wont get to the 60%ish until the fall.
And, vaccine uptakes are going way down (Picture 2). So, theres a chance that we wont get to 60% by the projected timepoint of the late summer unless vaccine uptakes start going back up. Vaccine distribution in the US is still not equitable! (Picture 3). Yet more than four months into the rollout, the most socially vulnerable counties in the U.S. have a lower vaccination rate on average than the nations least vulnerable. Vulnerability is defined as counties with low income, poor access to healthcare, transportation issues, etc.
Theres still a large amount of unvaccinated high-risk individuals who RELY on people telling the truth about whether or not they are vaccinated and acting accordingly with masking. They still rely on people recognizing this is not about you this is still about the other. So, the questions of Can I take my mask off if Im only in a room of 9 instead of 11 people or Technically, Im allowed to XYZ become unimportant. Thats getting lost in the weeds when its really about the bigger picture. Do I trust people to keep the bigger picture in mind to prevent more surges until we can get more people vaccinated? No.
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~Drewnami~ A beacon of Light from a burning screen.