WHO wants us to wear masks if indoors with unvaccinated people. CDC (last I heard) did not. Some smaller government entities are specifying — various degrees of enforcement — masks if indoors.
The facts: Versus Delta, the mRNA vaccines is 85% better than nothing. And “natural immunity” from having had it, or if you’ve had only one of a two-jab vaccine, gives you only about 25% better than nothing (I’ve seen 15% to 35%).
My own choice: When inside, with the local population (about 50% vaxxed, but I volunteer where I estimate the percentage is lower) while volunteering or shopping, I’ll be masked. Spouse has chosen to go unmasked. This is at least as much about “my glasses don’t fog too bad, but hers do” as it is about doing the statistical math.
We’re in a war against Covid19. Everyone who has been (fully) vaccinated is a soldier against Covid19. In a war, some soldiers are injured (infected) or possibly lose their lives (very rare for the vaccinated). On the other hand, those who refuse to be vaccinated are granting/inviting themselves to be a military base for our enemy, the virus. If you refuse the vaccine for political reasons, you are not a traitor to your country, you are a traitor to everyone, to all of humanity.
—) I once knew a girl named Delta Variant. She had an infectious personality. Try as I might I could not mask my attraction to her, and it nearly proved fatal. Fortunately, my pal Tony clued me in that Delta had been around a lot — A LOT. And he introduced me to a nice girl named Moderna, who really got under my skin, in a nice way. Knowing her is like a shot in the arm — in the medical sense. (—
If the public weren’t so scientifically illiterate, there wouldn’t be confusion. It’s sixth grade science, and it goes back to Louis Pasteur and Doctor Robert Koch. Get vaccinated, as Edward Jenner proved, and the body will become immune. Stay two meters away from strangers to keep any virus from spreading. The end.
Covid is new and even medicos have no idea what to do about it. They are trying the best they can and just get insulted because they aren’t godlike. So people will wallow in their ignorance and claim they aren’t dying of Covid. One antivaxer claimed her mother died of stress!!
The best part? The vaccine protects us from non-vaccinated people. That means they’re only going around infecting each other. (And some poor souls who cannot be vaccinated.) And because this group eschews other forms of protection (masks, social distancing, hand sanitizing, avoiding large groups, etc.), they’re only killing each other.
OK, Ted, a few things. While the World Health Organization (WHO) had said that those fully vaccinated needed to mask up, social distance, etc. because of the Delta Variant, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stated on national TV (and elsewhere) that if you’re fully vaccinated you are safe from the Delta variant. While the CDC’s turf is inside the US, the WHO’s turf is in the rest of the world (where vaccination rates are lower). There’s a difference. So, rather than freak out over the Delta Variant, we would do better to get those who are on the fence about getting vaccinated to get fully vaccinated ASAP. And let the hard core anti vaxxers eat their own.
- NO decent scientist refers to things as absolute, because science isn’t. Your comment that “Scientific studies that produce meaningful results don’t use words like “may” and “could”” is simply nonsensical. When predicting future results on a broader scale, any sensible scientist will say that a smaller-scale experiment “could” act the same on a larger scale.
- Your phrasing that “Masks do nothing to stop the spread of viruses” is equally wrong. In the case of COVID-19, spread primarily through droplets in the breath, masks are certainly helpful, because they block droplets. Indeed, masks covering the eyes have been shown to be helpful – one study found that wearing glasses helped, because in some cases the virus evidently got into the eyes.
Evidence:
From The Lancet, one of the world’s most respectable medical journals a FULL YEAR AGO: “Face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection (n=2647; aOR 0·15, 95% CI 0·07 to 0·34, RD −14·3%, −15·9 to −10·7; low certainty), with stronger associations with N95 or similar respirators compared with disposable surgical masks or similar (eg, reusable 12–16-layer cotton masks; pinteraction=0·090; posterior probability >95%, low certainty). Eye protection also was associated with less infection (n=3713; aOR 0·22, 95% CI 0·12 to 0·39, RD −10·6%, 95% CI −12·5 to −7·7; low certainty). Unadjusted studies and subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed similar findings.”
As un vaccinated people get sick and die, the percentage of vaccinated population will slowly rise to herd immunity. Are fewer Republicans a good or bad thing?
Same2Ubuddy almost 3 years ago
Masks do nothing to stop the spread of viruses.
Concretionist almost 3 years ago
WHO wants us to wear masks if indoors with unvaccinated people. CDC (last I heard) did not. Some smaller government entities are specifying — various degrees of enforcement — masks if indoors.
The facts: Versus Delta, the mRNA vaccines is 85% better than nothing. And “natural immunity” from having had it, or if you’ve had only one of a two-jab vaccine, gives you only about 25% better than nothing (I’ve seen 15% to 35%).
My own choice: When inside, with the local population (about 50% vaxxed, but I volunteer where I estimate the percentage is lower) while volunteering or shopping, I’ll be masked. Spouse has chosen to go unmasked. This is at least as much about “my glasses don’t fog too bad, but hers do” as it is about doing the statistical math.
braindead Premium Member almost 3 years ago
No big deal.
“We WANT them infected!”, right?
ollou90 almost 3 years ago
We’re in a war against Covid19. Everyone who has been (fully) vaccinated is a soldier against Covid19. In a war, some soldiers are injured (infected) or possibly lose their lives (very rare for the vaccinated). On the other hand, those who refuse to be vaccinated are granting/inviting themselves to be a military base for our enemy, the virus. If you refuse the vaccine for political reasons, you are not a traitor to your country, you are a traitor to everyone, to all of humanity.
PraiseofFolly almost 3 years ago
—) I once knew a girl named Delta Variant. She had an infectious personality. Try as I might I could not mask my attraction to her, and it nearly proved fatal. Fortunately, my pal Tony clued me in that Delta had been around a lot — A LOT. And he introduced me to a nice girl named Moderna, who really got under my skin, in a nice way. Knowing her is like a shot in the arm — in the medical sense. (—
descabro almost 3 years ago
A double negative situation.
VegaAlopex almost 3 years ago
If the public weren’t so scientifically illiterate, there wouldn’t be confusion. It’s sixth grade science, and it goes back to Louis Pasteur and Doctor Robert Koch. Get vaccinated, as Edward Jenner proved, and the body will become immune. Stay two meters away from strangers to keep any virus from spreading. The end.
mourdac Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Hard to laugh about anything covid-related but this did it for me. Thanks, Ted Rall.
William Bednar Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Or, don’t get vaccinated, don’t wear a mask, then you can take a tour of the local morgue, free!
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Covid is new and even medicos have no idea what to do about it. They are trying the best they can and just get insulted because they aren’t godlike. So people will wallow in their ignorance and claim they aren’t dying of Covid. One antivaxer claimed her mother died of stress!!
Lou almost 3 years ago
Oh great…another round of virus means another round of freedumb.
countoftowergrove almost 3 years ago
Durrr, durrr. Good one, Theodore.
mattro65 almost 3 years ago
I’ll just continue being a hermit. I’m fine with anti-social distancing.
ferddo almost 3 years ago
The use of vaccinations and masks is only complicated to people who wish to claim it is complicated.
Rich Douglas almost 3 years ago
Except that they do.
The best part? The vaccine protects us from non-vaccinated people. That means they’re only going around infecting each other. (And some poor souls who cannot be vaccinated.) And because this group eschews other forms of protection (masks, social distancing, hand sanitizing, avoiding large groups, etc.), they’re only killing each other.
Enjoy!
Northgalus2002 almost 3 years ago
OK, Ted, a few things. While the World Health Organization (WHO) had said that those fully vaccinated needed to mask up, social distance, etc. because of the Delta Variant, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stated on national TV (and elsewhere) that if you’re fully vaccinated you are safe from the Delta variant. While the CDC’s turf is inside the US, the WHO’s turf is in the rest of the world (where vaccination rates are lower). There’s a difference. So, rather than freak out over the Delta Variant, we would do better to get those who are on the fence about getting vaccinated to get fully vaccinated ASAP. And let the hard core anti vaxxers eat their own.
Motivemagus almost 3 years ago
DO NOT FEED THE TROLL.
Motivemagus almost 3 years ago
@Same2Ubuddy: Speaking AS a research scientist:
- NO decent scientist refers to things as absolute, because science isn’t. Your comment that “Scientific studies that produce meaningful results don’t use words like “may” and “could”” is simply nonsensical. When predicting future results on a broader scale, any sensible scientist will say that a smaller-scale experiment “could” act the same on a larger scale.
- Your phrasing that “Masks do nothing to stop the spread of viruses” is equally wrong. In the case of COVID-19, spread primarily through droplets in the breath, masks are certainly helpful, because they block droplets. Indeed, masks covering the eyes have been shown to be helpful – one study found that wearing glasses helped, because in some cases the virus evidently got into the eyes.
Evidence:
From The Lancet, one of the world’s most respectable medical journals a FULL YEAR AGO: “Face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection (n=2647; aOR 0·15, 95% CI 0·07 to 0·34, RD −14·3%, −15·9 to −10·7; low certainty), with stronger associations with N95 or similar respirators compared with disposable surgical masks or similar (eg, reusable 12–16-layer cotton masks; pinteraction=0·090; posterior probability >95%, low certainty). Eye protection also was associated with less infection (n=3713; aOR 0·22, 95% CI 0·12 to 0·39, RD −10·6%, 95% CI −12·5 to −7·7; low certainty). Unadjusted studies and subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed similar findings.”
Link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext
Here’s another, showing that spread slowed because of the implantation of face mask mandates: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/26/14857
Here’s a third from the US: county-by-county findings in Kansas: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6947e2.htm
The Mayo Clinic says as of last week: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond
Stop asserting your ignorance, please.
Radish the wordsmith almost 3 years ago
If Same2Ubuddy said on Facebook that masks did not work he would be removed.
What are GoComics community standards on Covid?
theherb95 almost 3 years ago
As un vaccinated people get sick and die, the percentage of vaccinated population will slowly rise to herd immunity. Are fewer Republicans a good or bad thing?
rossevrymn almost 3 years ago
I’m surrounded by this.