"Risk calibration is incredibly complicated and hard to do. " But wearing a mask is not. Nothing beats the ease of protection. Why roll the dice if you don't have to?
"Risk calibration is incredibly complicated and hard to do. " But wearing a mask is not. Nothing beats the ease of protection. Why roll the dice if you don't have to?
I think part of the reason is that masks don't provide perfect protection (but they sure beat no mask!), especially if not properly-worn KN95 or N95, or if others aren't wearing masks. I wonder if there's evidence about how much being fully vaccinated (+/- boosted) protects OTHERS (compared to not being vaccinated)? In other words, by how much does transmission reduce when one is vaccinated (independent of wearing a mask)? Trying to think of a nonambiguous way of asking this question - it stems from wondering how well "just" being vaccinated reduces transmission to others?
I've learned how to wear and handle masks and they work. Protection is pretty close to perfect. If you don't work in a high viral environment such as a hospital covid ward, you're pretty well protected against the silly mistakes us civilians periodically make. A mask is, for me, the major part of protection backed up by vaccination and boosting and behavior (nothing indoors without a mask). Being vaccinated alone is not enough. I started to see that in May of 2021 in the results from Singapore. LOTS of cases of transmission through double vaccinated Pfizer people. That just re-affirmed my earlier science-based decision to keep masking after vaccination.
I agree - It may be quite awhile before I give up wearing N95s indoors or crowded outdoor spaces (fortunately I like 'em tight with 2 straps). And...is it unusual that vaccinated people seem (as far as I understand it) to be able to transmit virus fairly easily if infected? Is this the way it is with measles and polio? Or does SARS work differently in terms of being able to transmit if infected? To the extent that vaccinated people can still transmit virus, what is the point of vaccination mandates (especially outside healthcare settings) - asking this curiously
The risk rates in my area are a little higher than I expected reading this, so I may wear a mask more often. But admit that my glasses fogging up and non-native English speakers having trouble understanding me are two big reasons why I started reducing my mask wearing when our state mandate was removed a few weeks ago. It definitely isn't a simple pro/con calculus at times.
"Risk calibration is incredibly complicated and hard to do. " But wearing a mask is not. Nothing beats the ease of protection. Why roll the dice if you don't have to?
I think part of the reason is that masks don't provide perfect protection (but they sure beat no mask!), especially if not properly-worn KN95 or N95, or if others aren't wearing masks. I wonder if there's evidence about how much being fully vaccinated (+/- boosted) protects OTHERS (compared to not being vaccinated)? In other words, by how much does transmission reduce when one is vaccinated (independent of wearing a mask)? Trying to think of a nonambiguous way of asking this question - it stems from wondering how well "just" being vaccinated reduces transmission to others?
I've learned how to wear and handle masks and they work. Protection is pretty close to perfect. If you don't work in a high viral environment such as a hospital covid ward, you're pretty well protected against the silly mistakes us civilians periodically make. A mask is, for me, the major part of protection backed up by vaccination and boosting and behavior (nothing indoors without a mask). Being vaccinated alone is not enough. I started to see that in May of 2021 in the results from Singapore. LOTS of cases of transmission through double vaccinated Pfizer people. That just re-affirmed my earlier science-based decision to keep masking after vaccination.
I agree - It may be quite awhile before I give up wearing N95s indoors or crowded outdoor spaces (fortunately I like 'em tight with 2 straps). And...is it unusual that vaccinated people seem (as far as I understand it) to be able to transmit virus fairly easily if infected? Is this the way it is with measles and polio? Or does SARS work differently in terms of being able to transmit if infected? To the extent that vaccinated people can still transmit virus, what is the point of vaccination mandates (especially outside healthcare settings) - asking this curiously
Vaccination mandates help protect hospital systems from collapse and not all vaccinated people pass on infection if they acquire one. The level of suppression their body mounts may just snuff it out quickly. And here's a fascinating look into people who never get infected no matter their exposure level: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/02/scientists-seek-to-solve-mystery-of-why-some-people-do-not-catch-covid
The risk rates in my area are a little higher than I expected reading this, so I may wear a mask more often. But admit that my glasses fogging up and non-native English speakers having trouble understanding me are two big reasons why I started reducing my mask wearing when our state mandate was removed a few weeks ago. It definitely isn't a simple pro/con calculus at times.
We all have our pain points.