I would think this new mask update puts the unvaccinated at an even greater risk of infection

[Siwsan]

Since those of us who are vaccinated can still catch Covid and be just mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic, the lack of masks will make more of us out there, potentially spreading the virus.

I guess only time will tell.

[underpants]

1. Good point

I guess they really “be different” getting it when everyone thinks it’s over.

[hlthe2b]

2. While it is possible to be infected post-vaccination, the spread from an infected vaccinated person

has been shown in repeated studies throughout the world-- with both Moderna and Pfizer (as well as J&J)-- to be very very low. The real risk comes from the unvaccinated, especially the asymptomatic infected.

[soothsayer]

4. Interested to see the story with those 7 infected Yankees staff

J&J vaccinated, 6 asymptomatic.

[hlthe2b]

7. J&J is 72% effective, compared to 95% with Moderna/Pfizer, so these aren't surprising

numbers for breakthrough infections--especially since all but one are ASYMPTOMATIC. The latter confirms that vaccine protected as expected.

[soothsayer]

8. Yep

[womanofthehills]

35. The new variants from India could be connected to breakthroughs

The World Health Organization just reclassified the B.1.617 strain, which was first identified in India, as a “variant of concern” — an indication that the variant has the “highest public health implications.”

The health agency said the decision was made because the variant appears to have higher rates of transmission, and preliminary evidence suggest “potential reduced effectiveness” of an antibody used in Covid-19 treatment. The variant also has “potentially slightly reduced susceptibility” to neutralization antibodies, the WHO said in its weekly update. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/11/india-covid-explainer-what-we-know-about-the-bpoint1point617-variant.html

[Celerity]

44. That 95% rate for the RNA vaxxes is not against a variant like B.1.351, where Pfizer drops down

into the 70's and Moderna even lower. The only vax in the mid 90's percentage wise against it is the experimental variant-tweaked Moderna mRNA-1273.351 vaccine that my wife and I are currently in a trial for here in Stockholm. We had our 2nd dose April 20, and our immunity counts (B cells, T helper cells, T killer cells, and antibodies), which were already high against the legacy strain, due to our long lasting (over one year) immunity from both of us having original COVID in late April 2020, are now off the charts for that South African B.1.351, which so far has been the worst. The AstraZeneca Vax, in comparison, was a huge fail, only a 10.4% efficacy rate versus the B.1.351 variant.

[hlthe2b]

45. It is the principle I am trying to explain for those concerned about the 7 NY Yankee players

that became infected after vaccination and why that is both not unexpected and not cause for major concern.

While you make an important and more comprehensive academic point, I was trying to explain the basics. I spend half my day on academic virology and infectious disease epidemiology sites and am a peer reviewer for one important journal so I do try to find ways to practice talking basics to a wider audience when outside my peer groups. Otherwise public health messages become an argumentative mess. This has been one of the bigger challenges throughout the pandemic and to the extent that we have failed, is a big piece of vaccine hesitancy.

[Celerity]

46. Thanks for the reply and thank you for your service!

[hlthe2b]

47. Back at ya!

[genxlib]

17. I wonder

If the real point of that story is that people in that industry get tested regularly. As opposed to people in the general population.

People like you and me might be contracting asymptomatic cases that never amount to anything so they don't get confirmed through testing. But since they are testing even healthy people, they might be capturing some of those cases.

[hlthe2b]

19. Yes... That is undoubtedly the case.

[Dorian Gray]

42. If 6 are

asymptomatic, then it seems as though the vaccine is actually working just fine.

[soothsayer]

43. And then the newly infected player is vaccinated AND had covid in December

Wild. Still, the point of the vaccine is that you don’t die.

[Siwsan]

10. I will continue to worry about the variants

Both catching and spreading. Even a 10% chance of catching one is pretty scary for someone like me.

[hlthe2b]

11. Caution is appropriate.

[womanofthehills]

36. The Indian variant B.1.167.2 is sadly already in US

It’s doubling weekly in UK. It has 2 mutations that make our vaccines less neutralizing of the virus. And now CDC will change the way they count breakthrough cases - or don’t count them.

Bloomberg) --

Federal health officials this month decided to limit how they monitor vaccinated people who have been infected with Covid-19, drawing concern from some scientists who say that may mean missing needed data showing why and how it happens.

At the end of April, more than 9,000 Americans were reported to be infected after being vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While that’s a tiny percentage of the 95 million people fully inoculated at the time, researchers still want to find out what specific mechanisms may be spurring the infections.

We shouldn’t be narrowing the focus, we should be broadening and develop a systematic plan,” said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla.

At the start of May, the CDC shifted from monitoring all reported breakthroughs to only those that result in hospitalization or death, Tom Clark, head of the vaccine evaluation unit for the CDC’s vaccine task force, said in an interview. The goal of the new strategy, according to the agency: maximize the quality of data collected on cases.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/cdc-limits-review-of-vaccinated-but-infected-draws-concern/ar-BB1gx1au?ocid=uxbndlbing

[Siwsan]

41. I'm very comfortable not masking while outdoors and NOT in a big crowd. I'll stay masked in stores

At least for now. I always try to hit the stores early in the day when there aren't a lot of people shopping but my confidence level is just not quite up to going bare faced.

If things keep improving, I'll re-evaluate but my gut says we are not yet 'out of the woods'.

[moonscape]

39. And to those with compromised immune

systems who aren’t able to make sufficient antibodies from the vaccine.

[forthemiddle]

3. That's a risk they are willing to take

After a while, the people that follow the science have to be able to reap the benefits and say yippee! I no longer have to be afraid, I no longer have to wear a mask!

This is a day to celebrate!

[Chainfire]

5. There are still people who consider the whole Covid issue as politics,

and that it is as unfaithful to Trump to protect themselves from the hoax virus. Recognizing the virus is as unfaithful as admitting that Trump lost the election. They are the ones who never wore masks in public. They will now be depending on others doing the right thing to protect their health. If they think that the virus is over, they may be in for a big surprise. To hell with them, there is always room for one more grave.

[NQCowboy68]

6. I don't care. Let them suffer the consequences.

[Siwsan]

9. I don't feel any angst for the anti vaxxers but I worry about one.

My nephew is a hard core anti-vaxxer. He's let us know that we are all at risk of getting cancer from the vaccine. Oh, and he has a 5 year old daughter. She went through the first round of the MMR shots when he read something, somewhere, written by somebody who is smarter than most everyone else. That was it, for her.

[Xolodno]

12. There have been times I thought Darwin was full of shit.

This is one of those times I smile with reaffirmation of science. I'm a religious person, but, I've been shocked at those who take Trump as gospel...and ignore the very book they profess, even after I show the verse contradicting them. They act like they never saw it.

[FakeNoose]

15. When they're brainwashed you can't un-wash them

Truth and science mean nothing to these nitwits.

[Xolodno]

32. You're right.

I belong to a religion that considers the Apocrypha as genuine. So when I quote Jesus son of Sirach, chapter 38, you would think they would pay attention. Nope, they ignore it. And I understand why Protestants may have some aversion, but we aren't Protestants, but years of support from them quoting it....then boom...they act like it was never there. Just so they can appease their man god.

...all the while our ancestors fled a Country where the head of state was a Man-God.

[FakeNoose]

13. Are there any statistics on vaccinated people

... who later caught Covid and DIED? I know there have been stories of those who got sick after getting vaxxed. But I'm hearing it's a milder version of Covid, and the vaccine does make a difference in any case. I hope that's true!

[GulfCoast66]

18. Yes. The cdc has it. Latest number I saw are incredible.

Less than 10,000 breakthrough cases out of 100 million vaccinated Americans. That a 1 in 10,000 chance of catching it. Not dying.

Less than 150 deaths. Unless my math is wrong that like a 1 in 750,000 chance.

I face worse odds than that driving to work every day.

[genxlib]

20. Yes

Here https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html

132 deaths out of 100 million vaccinated. That is statistically approaching zero as far as mortality goes.

[beaglelover]

14. So what? Vaccines are widely available now. It's not a vaccinated person's concern

if the unvaccinated are too stupid or lazy to get vaccinated. Do your civic duty and get vaccinated or risk getting COVID and dying.

[Siwsan]

22. I agree, but...................

I have a nephew who is an antivaxxer and I admit that as FRUSTRATED as I am with his nonsense (he's also anti-mask), I'm also worried to death that he will catch it.

Of course, he may have but was asymptomatic. My niece, his sister, tested positive and showed no symptoms. Her exposure came immediately after her first jab.

[Ms. Toad]

31. And children under 12?

Or those who can't be vaccinated because of allergies, or other medical reasons?

[beaglelover]

33. They can wear a mask.

[BlueLucy]

16. Yes. it will bring herd immunity quicker

he unvaccinated will either get covid or die.

[roamer65]

21. If one's decision is not to get the vaccine because of nonsense Q type conspiracies...

then please don’t plug up the health system because of your stupidity.

Stay home and let it run it’s course...even if that includes death.

[Siwsan]

23. Huh?

I'm assuming that's a general and not a directed statement. I'm double vaccinated, as is everyone in my close circle. Doesn't stop me from worrying about the unknown.

[roamer65]

24. Correct...general you NOT you you.

There better worded I hope.

[Captain Zero]

34. Yes I say set a date after which an unvaccinated person has to pay for 50% of their hospitalization

from the Corona Virus.

[Yavin4]

25. Some people still choose to smoke cigarettes.

We're at the point where the individual, not government, has to manage his/her own health risks.

[Siwsan]

26. True

I think I've had so much to worry about, over the past several years, I don't know how to just let things go!!

[KPN]

27. Absolutely, especially since there will likely be

millions of unvaccinated out there in public places masquerading as “vaccinated”.

[lunatica]

28. But getting COVID won't kill you

if you’re vaccinated. Knowing this is what made me not worry so much about not wearing a mask.

[GulfCoast66]

29. And you have less than a 1 in 10,000 chance of even getting it.

Death is literally almost 1 in a million.

[lunatica]

30. Those are good odds

Probably better than dying in a car crash. Not bad.

[shanti]

38. Exactly n/t

[Meowmee]

37. I think it is too early to stop the mask requirements

For one, there are still too many cases and variants which we may not even know about as well as ones we do know about which may be able to over ride the various vaccines. And obviously people who aren't vaccinated are going to lie and not wear a mask. If there is no way of determining accurately who is vaccinated and enforcing this policy, which is the case, it is a joke, and this can lead to more cases/transmissions/deaths and terrible outcomes.

Some are truly not able to be vaccinated and children under 12 can't be vaccinated yet.

I have been fully vaccinated since March 10th with the Pfizer vaccine, my brother just received his second shot and my father his first. I am a covid long hauler having had covid pneumonia last April and I believe I had it again in January, exposed by my father who was exposed at an er. There is no way I want to get covid again, no matter how mild a case it may be. Covid has destroyed my father's health. I will wait until the numbers are way down, which hopefully they will be at some point in the future. I will also thankfully be teaching online again in the fall, so I I won't have to deal with unvaccinated students and colleagues, no mask policy and so on when numbers could be going up and variants could be causing trouble.

I hate wearing masks, it is difficult for me with asthma and glasses, but it isn't worth the risk. Outdoors with few people around I will go unmasked for now. I just wonder what is going to happen if numbers and cases go up again. Will it go back to wear masks and shutdowns etc.

This has been a huge failure overall from the start, other than the vaccines developed and the now wide distribution, mostly due to pure stupidity and intentional malice. It could have been over in 3-4 months probably with a real shutdown and everyone wearing masks and then eventually vaccination. It seems the large number here who will refuse a vaccine and elsewhere in the world are going to permanently mess things up. I hope I am wrong of course.

[Siwsan]

40. I do think wearing masks in stores is just a good idea

I usually try to shop during the 'vulnerable shoppers' hours so there haven't been that many people. And I'm one of those shoppers who goes in with a plan - I pick up what I need, pay for it and head out - no 'window shopping', no time wasted - so that lowers my risk a bit, too. But my comfort level is just not quite strong enough to drop the mask while inside a business. I haven't worn a mask, outdoors, in about a year but I also avoid crowds.

I will probably switch over to the manufactured blue paper masks instead of my 3 layer home made cloth ones. They do make breathing a little bit easier. However, I'm hanging on to my cloth masks because I have a feeling I'm going to need them, again.

[Meowmee]

49. Agree

I wear mostly kn95. Sometimes surgical masks at home. No one is coming into our house unmasked. I will give them one if needed. I have two cloth masks I wore early on and sometimes for walks. One has siamese cats on it. I will keep them for other uses anyway and because who knows what the future will bring. I already wore masks for any dust/ vapor garden activities and will continue. I am amazed how many people such as plumbers and handymen etc. don’t wear masks to protect themselves.

[RegularJam]

48. Time for it to spread through the unvaccinated.

That's the reality of it. We are closing in on that point where enough are vaccinated that a run on hospitals from Covid is not going to happen.

It spreading through the unvaccinated is going to be a positive. Please don't get me wrong, I don't want anyone catching covid. But societally, it's what must happen. It's not about the individual, it's about the collective.