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

nytimes.com

191–200 of 925 posts

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

#191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a trolley problem. Someone gets hurt if you put the mask on, someone gets hurt if you don't put the mask on. You're assuming that there is an objectively good decision here.

nobody gets hurt if you put the mask on.

Lets wait to see what the economic impacts of this fear culture brings, before announcing there are no casualties.

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

#192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Kids are more likely to die in the car/bus on the way to school than by covid. Still it's good to get them vaccinated so they don't end up killing older people.

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

#193

I would like to see the mathematical analysis that concludes it is unsafe for a vaccinated person to fly on an airplane without a mask while it is safe for a masked unvaccinated person.

The issue is that now there's no way to tell whether the unmasked person next to you is vaccinated and safe or unvaccinated and dangerous.

Meanwhile in more sane countries citizens choose wether to wear masks and not. We locked down early and often, so almost none died.

Anyways, studies show distance to be more preventative.

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

#194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hah, that's a cool idea

It's genius. US should do a federal one. I liked the idea of paying people to get vaccinated [1], but since that encountered public opposition, this is the next best thing. [1] https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/955594105/should-the-governme...

I think if the feds offered $100 to get vaccinated that uptake would go way up.

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

#195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

the thing that scares me is that Pfizer is "only" ~75% against B.1.351. I'm not worried right now, and I've relaxed a ton since before, but I'm nervous that B.1.351 and other vaccine-resistant strains will rise to prominence once enough people are vaccinated.

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

#196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re absolutely right. Six months ago I would have said something like that (and indeed many months before even when the CDC was spewing the bullshit that started all this anti mask stuff). I probably wouldn’t have hassled someone I didn’t know, just avoided them altogether. However, the difference is, by wearing a mask where it might not strictly be necessary, I am choosing to inconvenience myself in a way that do…

It's a trolley problem. Someone gets hurt if you put the mask on, someone gets hurt if you don't put the mask on. You're assuming that there is an objectively good decision here.

Who gets hurt if I wear a mask?

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

#197
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. This American fascination with “health” is very odd. My grandparents in Bangladesh lived as long as the average life expectancy in the US today, and they’re not even remarkable. Once you have antibiotics and make it past child mortality, you’re very close to hitting diminishing returns.

and make it past child mortality That's the hard part in less developed countries. In 1960 Bangladesh had a child mortality rate of almost 30%. At that time the US was under 3%. Even today with antibiotics etc., Bangladesh is about 5x higher than the US. I'm honestly not sure what you mean by America's fascination with health: I'm an American, so it of course would seem normal to me. But whatever we're doing, Banglad…

There’s a reasonably famous anecdote I saw about that time on Pakistani television, from Qudratullah Shahab’s (federal civil servant at then time) autobiography. The US was sending sanitary aid to Pakistan and the East Bengalis asked for their fair share of it and were told sitting there in the federal secretariat building by the West Pakistanis “Go use a banana leaf” (to wipe your @$&!?!)

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

#198
post #50

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They won't ever reach 95%; not gonna happen.

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-...

Berkley is possibly the most liberal and educated area in the USA (of significant population) so of course it will be high. In your average city, we will be EXTREMELY lucky if it reaches 65-70%, in the rural areas of the country 50% would be a win.

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

#199
post #73

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There are literally zero downsides to wearing a mask in public, and it's crazy that anyone would shame someone for it. In many Asian countries it is considered civilized and thoughtful to wear a mask when feeling ill to prevent the spread of disease. I too hope this becomes the norm in the US.

That is kind of like saying there is zero downsides to wearing a helmet or a bulletproof vest in public. It’s fine if you want to do it, but people not wanting to do it is also fine. The problem is both sides often have a degree of judgement that their way is better.

Bulletproof vests and helmets are intended to only protect the wearer. Masks, on the other hand, are supposed to protect the wearer and the people surrounding them. It's not the same

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

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it is responsible in the slightest to go to a crowded movie theater, unvaccinated, only wearing a paper mask. Even more so when a safe an effective vaccine is available. I understand your point, but this road goes both ways.

Do you think that no children under 12 should be going to movie theaters today? Because none of them are allowed to be vaccinated yet.

Well that depends on what dogma you choose to eat. Do you think that children are susceptible to complications from COVID? Other commenters in this thread have pointed out data that shows children have less chance of complications vs the common flu.

Since this is the dogma I choose to eat, the one supported by facts and data, I would say that it would be fine for unvaccinated 12 year olds to visit movie theaters. As long as they aren't able to spread it to vulnerable family members who are unable to get the vaccine due to medical reasons. But even then, that should be a decision the family makes. Not the government

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