According to CNN, front line workers are starting to get immunized. While these developments mark a historic moment and hold much promise, that doesn’t mean Americans can stop wearing masks anytime soon. CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, explains why.
Click here to read the CNN article and learn more
The good news is, it is only temporary.
Here’s what the studies don’t yet show. They haven’t looked at whether the vaccine prevents someone from carrying Covid-19 and spreading it to others. It’s possible that someone could get the vaccine but could still be an asymptomatic carrier. They may not show symptoms, but they have the virus in their nasal passageway so that if they’re speaking, breathing, sneezing and so on, they can still transmit it to others. This is the main reason why we can’t stop wearing masks right after we get the vaccine. The vaccine will protect you from getting ill and then ending up hospitalized. But it’s possible that you could still carry the virus and be contagious to others. So those who get the vaccine should still be wearing masks and practicing physical distancing.
Ms. Jenn Landers | Patient Advocate Alliance LLC Edited by Dr. Justin Groode