Staff Editorial

   Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) released loosened mask restrictions for fully vaccinated people. Despite ample protection from COVID-19 vaccines, vaccinated people should continue to wear masks for the consideration of themselves and others.  

   With nearly 120 million people in the United States and 36.2 percent of California’s population fully vaccinated, according to the CDC and California Department of Public Health, the CDC’s new recommendations would safely allow vaccinated individuals to engage in select activities without masks. This includes attending small outdoor gatherings with vaccinated and unvaccinated people, and being able to walk, bike, or run outdoors. Still, fully vaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks to maximize the effectiveness of the vaccine and prevent spread to unvaccinated people. 

   While the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have the average efficacy of 95 percent, there is still the possibility for infection as the vaccines are not foolproof. Additionally, other vaccines may have a much lower rate of effectiveness, such as the Johnson&Johnson vaccine with the efficacy of 86 percent against severe forms of COVID-19 according to the New York Times. Vaccinated individuals would likely develop less severe, asymptomatic cases if infected; however, they could still spread the virus to other people, including children under the age of 12, who are susceptible to more dangerous cases. 

   The vaccines also have an unknown rate of effectiveness towards new COVID-19 strains. According to BBC, data suggests that the vaccines provide protection against most of the variants, but there is insufficient evidence to know for sure. Additionally, data on the strains are updated everyday, and until we know that the vaccines are effective against the variants for sure, we should continue to practice safety protocols. 

   Masks should continue to be worn in areas where the possibility for infection is high, such as crowded outdoor areas and indoor environments where air circulation is poor. Though fully vaccinated people are less likely to carry the disease or contract the disease, the vaccination status of others are unknown. For the consideration of people without the vaccine, or those who are vaccinated but do not have the same risk tolerance, it is imperative that vaccinated people continue to wear masks in order to give others a better sense of security. 

   In addition to wearing a mask, people must continue to observe safety regulations by frequently washing their hands, using hand sanitizer, and socially distancing. While using a mask is a common precaution for socializing in public, socializing from home would decrease contact and eliminate the possibility of infection entirely. Instead of eating out with friends or watching a movie together in a small space; phone calls, video calling, and using synchronized applications like Teleparty to have fun with others would provide the most optimal protection from COVID-19. 

   The vaccines are a major step in helping society return to normalcy, but the virus continues to be a major risk factor. We are still experiencing a large-scale pandemic, and this will continue unless we take the appropriate measures to ensure our safety.