Should you still wear a mask if you're vaccinated against COVID-19?
The novel coronavirus brought along a lot of chaos, transformations and tragic episodes of loss and grief. It has gone on to affect millions of lives and continues to take a toll on people in myriads of ways. The devastation caused by the second wave is unforgettable and only highlights the unpredictability of the SARs-COV-2 virus, which is why getting your vaccinations is of utmost importance. However, does receiving your COVID vaccines mean that you can do away with the COVID guidelines and forget about wearing your masks? Not really! Here's everything you should know.
COVID-19 can affect everyone, new variants pose greater risk
Whether you're young, old, healthy or someone with pre-existing comorbidities, anybody and everybody can contract COVID-19. While having a prior medical condition or being an older member of the society makes one more vulnerable to the virus, there's no guarantee that the young and fit individuals can dodge the virus in any way.
With the onset of new variants with multiple mutations, the risk of contracting the virus and getting infected is much higher and a source of major concern. Not only have the rate of transmissibility increased, but newer variants are said to have the ability to escape not just vaccine protection but also antibodies produced during previous COVID-19 infections.
Read more: Coronavirus: Dealing with Delta variant with COVID-19 vaccination
Vaccinations should be prioritized
The scepticism around vaccinations has remained for a long time, even before the SARs-COV-2 virus took over our lives. But given the rate of COVID-19 infections and considering how new variants are emerging everyday, COVID vaccines are the need of the hour. Young or old, fit or someone with a pre-existing medical condition, everyone is prone to infections. That said, getting yourself vaccinated is the only way to gain a certain amount of protection against the virus and it's variants.
COVID vaccines can protect you against serious coronavirus infections
Experts have said that COVID vaccines, although does not eliminate the chances of contracting the virus, can protect you against serious illnesses. In many cases, COVID vaccines have reduced the risk of hospitalisation in patients.
With growing cases of people infected with the new variants, vaccine efficacy and effectiveness have become a major discussion in recent times. Although the vaccines have the potential to curb serious infections, many have contracted the virus even after being fully vaccinated. Although the risk of serious infections have been reduced considerably, the possibility of being a carrier is still high, which puts the most vulnerable in society at greater risk.
Do you still need to wear a mask post-vaccination?
Although getting yourself vaccinated against COVID-19 is extremely important and is somewhat the most efficient way to protect yourself from the virus, you must continue to wear your masks to minimize the risk of transmission.
It is important to note that COVID vaccines, although effective, do not provide you with 100% protection. It may eliminate the risk of serious illnesses and reduce the possibility of hospitalization, but you may still be susceptible to the virus and may become an asymptomatic carrier/spreader. This in turn puts those with compromised immune systems and unvaccinated individuals at a high risk of infections.
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, fully vaccinated people can resume their daily activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart. However, given the rise in the Delta variant cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged fully vaccinated individuals to continue wearing masks indoors and practice physical and social distancing.
Read more: COVID: Things the second wave of coronavirus taught us and mistakes we should avoid
The importance to practicing COVID appropriate behaviour
As is known, COVID-19 infections are unpredictable. The new emerging variants are evidence in itself. Although a few experts put great trust in the vaccines and have suggested that people can resume their work and also stop wearing their masks if fully vaccinated, it is important to note that you can still contract the virus and be a spreader. This means you can put unvaccinated individuals at risk.
That said, maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and practicing COVID appropriate behaviour is still very important.