Should Vaccinated People Disguise Themselves Against the Delta Variant?
Los Angeles County recently asked residents to start wearing masks again in public due to the increased risk posed by the delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. A few days later, the CDC director said the vaccinated people are still “safe” and still don’t need to disguise themselves in most public places. Who is right and why conflicting reports?
Vaccines are still very effective against Delta
Vaccines may be slightly less effective against Delta than older forms of the virus, but they still work. Early evidence shows Pfizer vaccine is 88% effective against Delta (up from 93% for Alpha, the earlier version) if you were fully vaccinated. Moderna announced that laboratory tests show its vaccine can neutralize all variants, including Delta, and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine appears to be 60% effective .
It also seems likely that vaccines are effective against a serious illness, so if you do get sick it is likely to be milder than if you had not been vaccinated; The effectiveness of preventing hospitalizations Pfizer was 96% .
That way, if you’ve been vaccinated, you’re still mostly protected, but it’s wise to take a little extra care.
Delta is more infectious than other forms of the virus
Delta is a “variant of concern” for good reason : it is more transmitted than other forms of the virus, it can cause more severe illness and is less likely to be stopped by vaccines. At the moment, the most important aspect is transferability.
In the UK, Delta is the cause of almost all new infections; in the United States, only 20 percent. Delta may turn out to be the dominant strain here as well, because it is more transmissible. The fact that we recently dropped the mask requirement could help spread it, and low vaccination rates in some communities mean that these places can be particularly vulnerable. Virologist Angela Rasmussen told Scientific American that hot weather in places like Arizona and Texas could cause more people to share air as they congregate in air-conditioned enclosed spaces, leading to increased transmission in those locations.
More often than not, disguise can be a good idea.
With what we know about Delta, vaccinated people are still unlikely to contract or transmit the virus, but they are more likely than normal COVID.
In some institutions, such as hospitals and airports, masks are required for everyone. (I recently traveled by air for the first time in a long time; I appreciated the mask rule given that the planes were packed.) If you are vaccinated, you may want to wear the mask in crowded areas or in areas where there is otherwise a high risk. you. I don’t wear a mask on most walks, but it’s always in my pocket.
Here’s a helpful metaphor from a New York Times article on conflicting messages:
“For now, thinking about wearing a mask is like dressing for the weather,” said Lincy Marr, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Institute of Technology and one of the world’s leading experts on virus transmission. “You need to consider the number of cases and vaccination rates, wherever you go, what you do, and your own health.”
In parts of the world where Delta is the dominant option, cases are high and many people are not vaccinated, masks can help bring the situation under control. Elsewhere, including parts of the United States, cases are low and vaccination rates are high, which means it is relatively safe to go without a mask when vaccinated.
If you are not vaccinated, it is more important than ever to continue to disguise yourself to protect yourself. Children may no longer need to wear masks in places like schools, but if cases are spreading in your area, it might be a good idea to wear them anyway. Masks can also help people with weakened immune systems, some of whom may be more susceptible to the virus even if they have been vaccinated .