June 25, 2021 – When the CDC announced in May that fully vaccinated Americans would largely be able to take off their masks, many of us were eager to ditch the familiar items of clothing we’ve been wearing for more than a year.
Yet some people seem unwilling to let go of it.
The CDC said in May that, with few exceptions, people who are fully vaccinated can resume their activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart. The announcement resulted in a change in attitudes towards masks, with many fearful of taking them off.
“To some extent, it makes sense to have that fear and anxiety because that’s what we’ve lived with for the past year,” said Felix Torres, MD, chief of forensic medicine at Texas Health and Human Services. “It is ingrained in us to take these precautions. So there are some people who are likely to stick to these precautionary measures. “
During more than 150 million Americans are fully vaccinated, many still fear the unknown when it comes to COVID-19. More than 4 in 10 Americans (41%) say they are more anxious than they were last year. Young adults ages 18-29 (49%) and Hispanic / Latino (50%) are also more likely to report that they are more anxious now.
Although masks became important early on, they weren’t always popular or recommended. Georges Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, says the politicization of masks, failure of testing programs, and lack of communication have all created an uncomfortable situation.
“A lot of people didn’t feel comfortable wearing masks,” says Benjamin. “We are not a mask-wearing culture. So it was both a behavioral and a cultural change for the people. “
Another reason fully vaccinated people still hold onto masks is because they still don’t feel safe. Herd immunity is the country’s goal to significantly improve the chances of a new coronavirus outbreak. America is nowhere near that number, however.
“When you’re in Vermont, 70% of the people are vaccinated. So the chances are 70% of the time that you will meet someone who has been vaccinated, ”says Benjamin. “We believe that effective herd immunity is around 80%. So there too [Vermont], the likelihood of exposure to someone is higher. So the answer is no, we are not dealing with anything like herd immunity. “
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