Should You Wear a Mask After You’re Vaccinated?

With millions of Americans getting COVID-19 vaccinations, you have to wonder about wearing your mask after you're vaccinated.

Should you wear your mask or do you feel like there's no reason to wear them any longer?

According to khn.org, health experts say there are good reasons to continue wearing masks.

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Dr. Preeti Malani, chief health officer at the University of Michigan, said masks and social distancing will need to continue into the foreseeable future, until we have some level of herd immunity.  (khn.org)

Here are several reasons why you should continue wearing your mask:

1.  No vaccine is 100% effective.  According to khn.org, large clinical trials found that two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines prevented 95% of illnesses caused by the coronavirus.  1 in 20 people are left unprotected.

2.  Vaccines don't provide immediate protection.  It takes about two weeks for the immune system to make the antibodies that block viral infections.  KHN.org tell us that covid vaccines will take a little longer than other inoculations, such as a flu shot.

3.  Covid vaccines may not prevent you from spreading the virus.  While covid vaccines clearly prevent illness, researchers need more time to figure out whether they prevent transmission too.  Wearing masks is the safest way for vaccinated people to protect those around them.  (khn.org)

4.  Masks protect people with compromised immune systems.  According to khn.org, people with cancer are at particular risk from covid.  Studies show they're more likely than others to become infected and die from the virus, but may not be protected by vaccines.

I think it's great that so many people are getting their COVID-19 vaccines, but now is not the time to take chances when it comes down to saving peoples lives.  The coronavirus is out there along with new variants.