Why are you masked?

[Traildogbob]

When asked that question, I say I have been masking since the very beginning. So I have not had Covid. I still have a strong sense of smell and I can’t tolerate the smell of rotting brain.

[pandr32]

1. Good answer.

[Shrek]

2. I stopped masking 8 weeks ago

Thanks be to Pfizer.

[Ms. Toad]

3. Even with Pfizer,

The exposure that would have caused 100 cases of COVID in unvaccinated individuals pre-Delta combined with the decreased efficacy of the mRNA vaccines against Delta + increased contagiousness of Delta will produce 19.2 breakthough Delta COVID cases.

In other words the 95% effective vaccine against ordinary COVID is reduced to a net effective rate of 80.8% against the Delta variant. You're not as safe as you imagine yourself to be.



For those who care about the math:

Exposure that creates 100 COVID cases in unvaccinated individuals will produce only 5 breakthorugh cases in vaccinated individuals (Definition of vaccine effectiveness)

Delta is 60% more contagious: The exposure that would have created 100 garden-variety cases of COVID will create 160 Delta COVID cases.

Effectivenes is reduced to 88% against Delta COVID.

That means of those 160 cases the same exposure will create in unvaccinated individuals, there will be 12% breakthrough cases - or 19.2 cases (Again - definition of vaccine efficacy)

[Traildogbob]

8. Great info

Thank you. I will proudly keep my mask. Especially the second one I wear over my N95 that says. “Shut the F**k up Donnie” from the Stephanie Miller show. Mask holes Love that one. The Eddie Haskle in me.😂. Very few will get that reference, only old peeps.

[Traildogbob]

4. Delta

May provide a change of thought. Plus a mask covers 1/2 of my old face. And, the rotting brain smell is a benefit. Breakthrough cases are rising. I can’t “Be Best”, like Melanoma, but I CAN be safer.
I like to wear one just to own the MAGA’s. Pisses em off. Team Phizer here as well.

[USALiberal]

16. Lol! Nice try! Nt

[beaglelover]

17. I stopped on 6/15 when the mask mandate was lifted in CA.

FREEDOM!!!!

[NNadir]

5. ...the smell of rotting brain...

...very witty!

I may steal that line.

[Cinnamonspice]

6. I've removed my mask for the most part because I'm vaccinated.

I might put it back on more often when Delta hits more.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Vaccinated w/ Moderna and still masking

because Ala. has only 33% vaccination rate and new variants crop up, esp. now Delta.
fortunately I rarely have to go out in public anymore.

[LizBeth]

9. Because others still are and respect to them. I do not care. I am not concerned and am safe.

[gulliver]

10. I no longer mask unless I'm in a place where even the vaccinated are required to mask

Unfortunately, I think the deliberately unvaccinated in public places should feel the heat and shame from their misguided decision to "gain immunity the hard way." Not getting vaccinated when you are eligible and have access is not a respectable option. I view it as a dereliction of duty to the human race, and foolish and self-destructive to boot. I'm in good health and will take my chances on the Pfizer vaccine's effectiveness in keeping me out of the hospital.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. Because my state is only 34% vaccinated and has a positivity rate over 15%.

[Calculating]

12. So done with masks TBH

I'm vaccinated and back to living life.

[beaglelover]

15. Yep. Same here.

[marie999]

13. if you don't wear a mask you are not 100% safe.

If you are not 100% safe then neither are the children and others who can not get vaccinated. Wearing a mask is not a difficult thing to do. Think of others for a change instead of only yourself.

[Calculating]

19. Life isn't 100% safe

Thinking of others is why I did the right thing and got vaccinated despite being low risk. I'm not wearing damn masks anymore just because we have a bunch of idiots who won't get vaccinated. Children are at exceptionally low risk, and it's probably for the best if they get this at a young age to develop a good natural immunity.

[Maru Kitteh]

20. You are not 100% safe even if you do wear a mask.

Only total and complete isolation is 100% safe. Everything else is simply risk mitigation.

[Mariana]

30. If you do wear a mask, you still are not 100% safe. nt.

[marie999]

34. I guess you are all right. Screw the children.

[liberal_mama]

14. I'm still masked because I know I can still catch Covid even though I'm vaccinated

My aunt's friend is fully vaccinated and he's on a ventilator right now. He's not old either, he's 62 years old and was in good health.

It's not a big deal for me to wear a mask anyway. I'll never understand why people make such a big deal about putting on a mask. At this point, it's no more bothersome that putting on a pair of pants for me.

Yesterday, the United States had the highest number of new cases in months. The numbers are going the wrong way. There are too many unvaxxed people out there.

I've managed to avoid Covid all this time, despite having a husband who is an essential worker and unfortunately, not very careful. I do not want to catch even a mild case of Covid and possibly get long haul Covid. I know a few people with long haul and it's ruined their lives.

[abqtommy]

18. Over the last year and a half my mask has been very, very good to me. I enjoy being alive

so me and my mask will continue on together. It's a very inexpensive solution to a potentially
extremely serious outcome.

[Efilroft Sul]

21. Because I'm Batman!

Also, I'm of the same mind as Gulliver above.

[Traildogbob]

22. I did not expect

this to be a fuck masks commentary here on DU. It’s just Just how “I respond as I Chose to continue masking with Delta on the rise while living in a red area where mouth breathing is the law. Those gapping unvaxed holes spewing everything within 10 feet is a high risk. Covid is only one diseases these assholes may be spitting. I have been Phizered, but just choose extra precaution. I am Pro Choice, your body, your choice.
Y’all be y’all. I never bitched about smokers. I just encouraged them and kept a lighter always with me to speed up the inevitable. I believe in herd thinning.
I do however hope you vaxed people that chose not to mask do not start bitching like a MAGA at others that still choose to be a bit more careful.
Masks may make us targets for the civil war. But so do red hats. Great targets, and the “mist” won’t stain those Chinese hats.
Be happy. Mask or not. We are way past habitat carrying capacity anyway. Gonna run out of grave sites though and real estate is skyrocketing. Herd thinning, not herd immunity.

[Lars39]

23. Not sure I had a sufficient immune response.

Couple that with a high unmasked and unvaxxed percentage where I live, and the coming Delta variant storm….masking etc is all that makes sense.

[bigtree]

24. infection rates may well be in a managable range in my area, but I live in a multi-state hub

...too many people from out of state where infection rates aren't as low.

You can still catch the virus, with complications which, although vaccinated may prevent death, can still lead to life threatening consequences.

[Sympthsical]

25. Because it's normal for me at this point

It does me no harm to wear them in stores and things. Honestly, it's just muscle memory. Get out of car, make motion to pocket as I'm walking to the door.

I've had a lot of family parties and graduations the past two months, and I haven't been wearing them there - everyone's vaccinated. Even had two BBQs at my place with 12 and 16 people, respectively. I still kept a bit of distance, but it didn't bother me too much. Mostly just chatted out in the backyard.

I don't get people who are practically clawing their faces off to get rid of masks. Mine's actually pretty comfortable. Don't see the bother. Personal choice if you're vaccinated, of course.

[Klaralven]

26. Because I want to

You don't tug on superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off that old lone ranger
And you don't mess around with Jim

[Karma13612]

27. I'm not wearing a mask.

I have been vaccinated and hence protected from serious COVID infection including hospitalization and death since the end of March.

I am led to believe by medical science-based news that my Moderna vaccination is effective against the Delta variant.

I am relying on the CDC that what I am doing is safe and recommended. Just as I followed their guidance earlier by wearing a mask in public or around those not within my bubble at home, and always washing my hands with hot soap and water, or alcohol gel.

At this point, all people in the US aged 12 years and older have access to the vaccine. For some, access is difficult, but not impossible. As others have stated, just in this thread alone, I no longer have patience with people who have no desire to get vaccinated. I am protected and I also am at low risk of spreading the virus. I go by the science and what I have been told, and when they update their guidance, I will update my routine and practices as needed.

Although some people wish to use their own interpretations of the guidance, and to extrapolate and extend the risks when it is not supported, I am not one of them. In the grand scheme of things, if we don’t rely on science for COVID, then we can’t rely on it for anything else. And that becomes a slippery slope.

I will never harass or belittle ANYONE for wearing a mask. Chances are, I will start wearing one in public indoor settings like foodstores once flu season begins. I enjoyed not getting the flu last winter and although I got my flu shot, I also partially attribute staying healthy to the fact that I wore a mask.

But, I am maskless now. And enjoying the freedom of being able to read product labels in the food store. No matter WHAT I did when wearing a mask, my glasses ALWAYS fogged up. Add the anxiety factor of being scared S**tless that I was going to get COVID, I hyperventilated and couldn’t see anything in the stores back before vaccinations.

Anyway. Everyone needs to make up their own mind. But I rely on science and CDC guidance first and foremost.

[beaglelover]

32. Awesome post!!! I agree with everything you stated!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

28. I mask even though I am fully vaccinated

Indoors where there are a lot of people.

Why? Delta varients.

Also it is kinda like a security blanket.
I get anxious around unmasked people because I don't know if they are vaccinated or not.

[panader0]

29. I only go to town for a few hours on Saturday morning.

No masking here on my land. Masking is not an inconvenience for me when I'm shopping.
I have noticed that the majority of people at the stores are unmasked now. How many of
them have been vaccinated is anybody's guess. My second shot of Moderna was April 4th.
So I'll keep masking at the supermarket and stores.

[ismnotwasm]

31. Right now?

Because I am an RN and I am at work.

I don’t think we will ever return to “normal”

In the world, depends on how many people I’m around. Fully vaccinated, I could always become a asymptotic carrier. My husband is also vaccinated but is immunosuppressed. We remain prudently cautious

[Midnight Writer]

33. I still wear a mask in stores and will continue for now. It's really no big deal to me.

Doesn't take but a few seconds to put it on, and it's not uncomfortable for the short time I wear it.

Vax rate in my zip code is about 25%. I see very few masks being worn around here.

My community is very careless, so I will watch out and take extra precautions for myself.

I feel lucky to be alive and in as good as health as I am. I ain't gonna dick around and spoil my golden years over something so simple.

When I am in a crowded aisle full of mouth breathers talking, hollering, jostling, sneezing, coughing, and I know that probably 75% are unvaccinated, I am glad to have my mask on.

I look at it like driving. I wear my seatbelt at all times, I follow the safety rules, and I always, always watch out for the other guy.