I disagree that thsi same discussion would have been had anytime the decision was made.
For one thing, no one under12 is eligible to be vaccinated - and the variants are both more serious and more contagious among youth thatn the original vaccine. Eligibility will change by late summer. At that point there will no longer be a large class of people who cannot be vaccinated. (Part of many people's reluctance at teh moment.)
In addition (and especially when no one under 12 can be vaccinated), recommendations regarding mask orders need to take into account the health implications of halting mask wearing. Until we have herd immunity and a low rate of COVID in our communities. Not only does the current recommendation not take into account protecting the under 12s and others who cannot be vaccinated, it fails to take into account the significantly greater risk of breakthrough infections in communities with low vaccination and high infection rates. (More opportunities for infection x risk of a breakthrough infection (5% for mRNA vaccines; 25% for J&J) = more breakthrough infections. More breakthrough infectons also increases the risk to people who cannot be vaccinated.
A responsible recommendaton would have been to announce that people who are fully vaccinated can, in a manner that is safe for themsevles and the most vulnerable in their community, remove their masks when the community infection rate is below 50 cases per 100,000 AND the vaccination rate in the community is above 70%.
That kind of recommendation does two things: It provides support for communities (and states like Michigan) who are trying to be responsible, AND it is actually supported by the science (taking the community safety into effect - not merely the safety of a single vaccinated indvidual)
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