MESSAGE
| DATE | 2020-12-25 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [Hangout - NYLXS] Fear Mongering never ends
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Why you still need to wear a mask after getting COVID-19 vaccine
Getting the vaccine does not mean you can ignore precautions.
ByDr. Jay Bhatt andDr. Shazia Ahmed
December 25, 2020, 6:07 AM
• 6 min read
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As the promise of a COVID-19 vaccine is fulfilled amid the rollout of
the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the need to continue wearing
masks, washing your hands and maintaining social distancing remains
mission critical to protecting lives.
Public health measures have been the main tools at preventing infection
and transmission of the virus. Wearing a face mask can reduce an
individual's risk of infection by 70%. With emergency use authorization
of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, there is an opportunity to
further decrease the risk of illness due to COVID-19.
However, vaccines may give people a false sense of security that masks
are no longer needed. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Vaccination teaches the body how to successfully fight a virus without
actually getting sick. This is in contrast to public health measures,
which rely on decreasing exposure to the virus. To effectively contain
this pandemic, reducing exposure to the virus and supporting vaccination
campaigns must continue.
MORE: Americans willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine but divided on
timing: POLL
Here are reasons why you need to continue wearing a mask (and practice
other recommended safety guidelines) during and after vaccination:
-Vaccination does not provide instant immunity. Pfizer/BioNTech and
Moderna's vaccines require two doses administered weeks apart. Depending
on the vaccine, it can take four to six weeks from initial dosing to
achieve immunity and protection levels comparable to those in clinical
trials. During this time it is still possible to contract an infection
and fall ill.
-Vaccination trials did not track whether participants wore masks. While
clinical trials have strict enrollment and monitoring criteria, it isn't
clear whether those participating in the studies were provided guidance
on mask usage. Given a lack of data, it is not clear whether vaccination
efficacy had anything to do with vaccine trial participants adhering to
public health safety measures, like wearing masks.
PHOTO: A sign outside the Fresh Market supermarket in Smithtown, New
York asks customers not to enter without a face covering due to COVID-19
concerns on April 18, 2020.
Newsday Llc/Newsday via Getty Images
Newsday Llc/Newsday via Getty Images
A sign outside the Fresh Market supermarket in Smithtown, New York asks
customers not to en...Read More
The real world does not mimic a controlled clinical trial. Factors such
as how the vaccine is stored, transported, administered and the medical
health of an individual can determine real-world effectiveness of the
vaccine. Clinical trials evaluated healthy individuals with stable
preexisting diseases. As mass vaccination campaigns ensue, operational
logistics along with an individual's unique medical conditions may
affect overall immunity levels.
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The herd immunity threshold for COVID-19 is unknown. Herd immunity
occurs when enough of the population is exposed to the virus, typically
through vaccination, and limits the ability of the virus to spread. The
percentage of population requiring immunization to achieve herd immunity
varies by disease. For example, with measles, 95% of the population
needs to be vaccinated in order to limit spread. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the herd immunity threshold
for COVID-19 has yet to be established.
MORE: Now that we have 2 vaccines, will life return to normal?
The duration of vaccine immunity is unknown. The Food and Drug
Administration requires a median two months of safety and efficacy data
following completion of the vaccination regimen for emergency use
authorization. The length of vaccine coverage is yet to be determined
and will be monitored as vaccination campaigns are rolled out. The good
news is that our immune system's memory cells, which identify infections
and mounts an immune response, persisted beyond six months in certain
patients infected with COVID-19.
It is unclear whether vaccines prevent transmission of COVID-19. In
their clinical trials, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, did not track cases
of asymptomatic infections with COVID-19. This means the ability of the
vaccine to decrease transmission was never evaluated. Future studies
will need to evaluate whether vaccination decreases viral transmission
before we can re-evaluate the role of public health measures.
As this pandemic rages on globally, with over 1.5 million dead,
according to the World Health Organization data, the scientific
community has realized its own impressive milestone. In 10 months,
vaccines were created, tested and deployed with enviable efficacy rates
of over 94%, and no serious adverse events. Much of that success relies
on continued cooperation. It is imperative that every eligible
individual gets vaccinated. Vaccination significantly decreases the risk
of getting sick, but it does not signal the end of public health measures.
As we further understand this virus and the vaccine's efficacy, we must
continue to follow public health measures aimed at decreasing exposure
to coronavirus such as wearing a mask, washing hands and social distancing.
Jay Bhatt is an internist, an instructor at the University of Illinois
School of Public Health and an ABC News contributor. Shazia Ahmed, M.D.,
is a private practice physician in Massachusetts and former chief
medical officer of 2020 On-Site.
--
So many immigrant groups have swept through our town
that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological
proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
http://www.mrbrklyn.com
DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS - RI Safir 2002
http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software
http://www.brooklyn-living.com
Being so tracked is for FARM ANIMALS and extermination camps,
but incompatible with living as a free human being. -RI Safir 2013
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