Some health experts say that you still need to follow safety precautions to protect yourself and those around you from the deadly viral infection. According to CNN, the most common question people ask is whether they still need to wear a protective face mask after receiving the vaccine.
Experts overwhelmingly say yes, and Dr. Sandro Cinti, an infectious disease expert at the University of Michigan, stated that individuals who have received two full doses of the coronavirus vaccine may still transmit the virus to others, which is concerning and warrants caution. He added, "You should undoubtedly wear a protective mask. Although clinical trials of candidate vaccines only tracked individuals who exhibited symptoms of infection, about 40% of people show no symptoms. You can still get the virus or carry it in your nose and infect others. Additionally, vaccines are 95% effective, meaning there is a 5% chance that you could contract the virus even if you are vaccinated."
CNN also cites another reason for continuing to use face masks: some individuals may not respond to the vaccine as effectively as others. Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a professor of pediatrics and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, stated that many participants in clinical trials did not show any response from the first dose. He added, "The main reason for needing a second dose is to get everyone to respond."
Furthermore, the mutated viral strains that have plagued many countries, threatening to cause another outbreak in the United States, may not be affected by the vaccines either. Experts are particularly concerned about the variant from South Africa and fear that current vaccines may not neutralize the virus. Additionally, we are completely unaware of how long the immunity provided by the vaccines will last, which is why wearing masks seems to be an essential part of our lives for some time to come. Dr. Sara Mbaeyi from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated in a previous interview with CNN, "Given the limited current information on how well the vaccine works among the general population, vaccinated individuals should continue to protect themselves and others." She added, "As always, outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor gatherings. Even if you are vaccinated, wear a mask and maintain social distancing to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others."
Experts told CNN that poorly ventilated places are still hotspots for virus outbreaks, so indoor dining poses health risks for virus transmission. However, they clarified that if you are vaccinated, attending an outdoor sporting event or concert may be somewhat safe, provided there is good social distancing among people and everyone wears protective masks. Additionally, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the White House, told CNN last week, "Getting vaccinated does not mean you now have a free pass to move about and travel, or to ignore all the public health measures we are always talking about."
