Live data from Hacker News

Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

nytimes.com

131–140 of 925 posts

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#131
post #3

It’s good to give better incentives for people to be vaccinated, as many have urged for some time. I worry this carrot isn’t tied to an adequate stick - the unvaccinated can simply go without a mask regardless of their status. Will this move actually counter our slowing vaccination rates?

Yes, but the important thing is that the vaccine is available. They chose not to take it. The argument that we need to keep each other safe no longer holds.

Really hoping that the majority of those that haven't been vaccinated are just lazy and not scared of the vaccine. Hopefully this is enough of a carrot, but also hope this doesn't embolden those that haven't been vaccinated and don't plan on it from going mask-less in public when they previously were wearing masks.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#132
post #112

I don't really understand how places looking to align their precautions with CDC guidelines can do this. We don't have any required vaccination "passport", so if a movie theatre says vaccinated customers don't have to wear masks, how can they possibly tell who is vaccinated without relying on a dubious honor system?

Devil's advocate: people who say "trust the science/scientists" should do so even when they themselves disagree. I don't know your position, but I have seen similar responses to yours from people who I know have taken the position of "trust the scientists." Don't you think that the smart folks at the CDC have gone through a similar thought process as you and are issuing these guidelines regardless? Why would we not t…

The CDC is not recommending that all establishments allow people without masks though, it is only saying that if everyone is vaccinated then it is safe. If there is no way to guarantee that all are vaccinated, then this does not translate into a recommendation to drop a mask requirement.

Consider a parallel. the CDC might say if an HIV+ person is taking some treatment, it is safe to have sexual relations with them. But if you do not trust the person you are with, your own personal policy would probably not be to have unprotected sex.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#133
post #3

It’s good to give better incentives for people to be vaccinated, as many have urged for some time. I worry this carrot isn’t tied to an adequate stick - the unvaccinated can simply go without a mask regardless of their status. Will this move actually counter our slowing vaccination rates?

Do you think that the CDC gives guidance based on incentives instead of best health interest?

Personally they lost my trust when they told us to not wear masks for some time early in the pandemic.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but the important thing is that the vaccine is available. They chose not to take it. The argument that we need to keep each other safe no longer holds.

This right here is the argument, and has been since February 2020. We got a little lost along the way, but our original social measures to reduce the spread of COVID was due to our inability to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. Now that we have the vaccines, we have no moral reason to now baby the people who refuse to protect themselves.

Children can't get vaccinated yet, though, and I do still want to protect them. It's why my wife and I, though fully vaccinated, haven't totally returned to normal, since our toddler and infant are still susceptible.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#135
post #3

It’s good to give better incentives for people to be vaccinated, as many have urged for some time. I worry this carrot isn’t tied to an adequate stick - the unvaccinated can simply go without a mask regardless of their status. Will this move actually counter our slowing vaccination rates?

For what it's (not) worth, it prompted me to sign up today. :)

> For what it's (not) worth, it prompted me to sign up today. :)

More for my understanding than anything else, and with every guarantee that I won't present any follow-up questions or statements, but why was this the tipping point and not the actual disease risk mitigation resulting from the vaccine?

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#136
post #5

Vaccines still aren't 100%. This is bad advice from the CDC. It will only lead to anti-masker/vaxxers using this as an excuse for not wearing a mask. Even the fully vaccinated should be wearing a mask around other people. 94%/97% is not 100%. edit: Japan is a good example for how masks have drastically reduced the number of infected due to mask culture. Japan has half the US population and still isn't vaccinating the…

Nothing is 100% certain. If you don't want to risk it then stay at home.

Nothing is 100% certain.

I don't think this is true in all cases.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but the important thing is that the vaccine is available. They chose not to take it. The argument that we need to keep each other safe no longer holds.

That assumes that the vaccine is 100% effective, and that everyone who is at risk can safely take the vaccine. Neither of those are true.

Pfizer and Moderna are both effective to within the mid-high 90's, was my understanding.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Berkeley 94707 zip code was already at 98% of eligible population with at least one shot on April 30th. [1] I would guess a number of cities will be overall in the 90% range pretty soon. [1] https://abc7news.com/california-vaccination-rate-sf-vaccine-...

Zooming in, their map reports that vaccination rates in 94707 are now over 100% -- it's the gray region north of UC Berkeley. Perhaps folks are commuting in to 94707 to receive doses?

It could be more than 100% of the population count from the previous census.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#139

I don't really understand how places looking to align their precautions with CDC guidelines can do this. We don't have any required vaccination "passport", so if a movie theatre says vaccinated customers don't have to wear masks, how can they possibly tell who is vaccinated without relying on a dubious honor system?

I think this is the part where we have to just "let people be adults". We're at the point now where those who are at risk for COVID complications should have access to a vaccine which will greatly reduce that risk. For the rest of the population, it's on you if you want to go to a crowded movie theater without a vaccination. "If he dies, he dies"

Except it's not really "on you". If you're sick, masks protect other people from you getting them sick too. So if an irresponsible unvaccinated anti-masker goes to the theatre and there's an unvaccinated but responsibly mask-wearing person, the unmasked person can get them sick. The responsible person pays the price.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#140
post #3

It’s good to give better incentives for people to be vaccinated, as many have urged for some time. I worry this carrot isn’t tied to an adequate stick - the unvaccinated can simply go without a mask regardless of their status. Will this move actually counter our slowing vaccination rates?

For what it's (not) worth, it prompted me to sign up today. :)

Interesting, as someone who got vaccinated the first day it was available to all adults in Utah(3/24), I'm surprised that this news changed any ones mind. But either way I'm glad it did!.
Post reply on HN