Why So Many Vaccinated People Are Still Wearing Face Masks
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given the green light to go out and about without wearing a mask provided that you have been vaccinated against Covid-19, many people are still choosing to cover-up. It’s not surprising that some individuals are skeptical – maybe even afraid – to go bare-faced after more than a year of being warned to cover up and stay away from others.
An LA Times article points out that the new CDC guideline is simply a recommendation. The fact of the matter is, it’s okay to still wear your mask if it makes you more comfortable, especially in public places like the grocery store. Health officials say it can be wise to continue to wear your mask when in crowds or when you are around people you don’t know and who may not be vaccinated.
The story notes that not only should there be no stigma for continuing to wear a face covering, but it can also be a nice thing to do in many situations. Some see it as a sign of respect. According to the article, the immune-compromised and young children are still at risk to Covid-19 because they cannot be vaccinated. It declares that wearing your mask around them can be the courteous thing to do.
Additionally, Covid-19 variants are spreading rapidly. CNN quoted the CDC director as cautioning that the Delta variant (prevalent in India and the UK) could become “the predominant variant in the months ahead” here in the U.S. While the existing vaccines have proven effective against the current variants, officials say new ones are constantly emerging and we just don’t know how protective the vaccines will be in those cases.
The bottom line is that you should do whatever makes you and your family comfortable. If that means that you want to continue to wear your mask in public, then by all means cover up. The pandemic is not over. We must all do what we can to end this global crisis.
The Seniors Trust is committed to improving the lives of seniors by providing important information about COVID-19 and the vaccines – and by working to improve Social Security. It wants to see Congress pass the Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will provide bigger monthly Social Security benefits, establish a more realistic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for seniors, and guarantee the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.
