The recent discovery of certain side effects and complications, be it the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine or the Russian vaccine, has only increased our fears that a vaccine is not the safest bet as the pandemic continues to escalate in large numbers.
It is also predictable to assume that a single vaccine could save humanity from ruin. Social distancing, sanitation and other preventive measures, including the use of masks, may still need to be practiced. Recent statements from the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have only further clouded our fears.
Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), considered the lead body for medical research, recently said that while vaccines may be solving our problems to some extent, masks work. better to offer a much more protection for us.
While Redfield’s comments faced some criticism globally, the statement only shows how the world could be overestimating the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine. Speaking in front of a government committee, the CDC director said:
“We have clear scientific evidence that they work and are our best defense. I could even go as far as to say that this mask is more likely to protect me against Covid-19 than when I take a vaccine. ”
Why our wait for a vaccine may be longer than we think
Although vaccines are made for the sole purpose of preventing an epidemic, they may not ALWAYS work. On the one hand, large trials are needed to confirm their efficacy rates, which is not possible at this time, considering the necessity of the situation in question.
Globally, more than 35 companies are involved in critical phase III trials to launch a vaccine on time. The timeline and funding for it has already been sped up, but it won’t give us early access yet. Remember, science takes time to work and it would be ridiculous to rush the process and put our health at risk.
Therefore, it would be necessary to continue practicing security measures.
Are masks a safer option than the vaccine?
Masks and vaccines are two different things and they work differently. While comparing these makes no sense, adopting mask hygiene could bring us closer to controlling the pandemic right now. In fact, the use of masks could also make the job of vaccine manufacturers easier in the future.
Early vaccines may not be the safest. There can always be the risk of extensive side effects that can lead to additional health problems. Expecting a vaccine to be bug-free at this point paints too bright a picture.
Compared to this, the masks available at the moment are mostly safe and require little precision to use.
The distribution and use of masks are also cheaper and cheaper than an early launch of vaccines.
There are many loopholes, you need to check authorizations. It is also necessary to determine priority access and authorization. So simply developing a vaccine is only part of the job. All of these hurdles can test the effectiveness of a vaccine and delay launch.
Wearing a mask can be one of the safest and most preventable ways to protect the risk of infection.
Masks can work to protect the population, regardless of their age. It is also easier to manage and distribute the masks to those in need and to produce in large volumes.
How much protection do masks guarantee?
From not recommending face masks to requiring the use of a cover, medical guidelines have changed on the use of masks.
CDC guidelines suggest that wearing a mask could be the single most important way to reduce your risk of contracting the new coronavirus. Wearing a mask effectively reduces the amount of saliva when someone coughs in a room, which means that if sick people wear masks, everyone else will be better protected.
As long as you are wearing the mask correctly (from the type of mask, avoiding loose spaces and making sure it fits well), a mask can work to prevent the spread of disease, to some degree. It can also help prevent asymptomatic transmission.
So whether or not you are sick, or showing symptoms, wearing a mask is good for you.
In fact, non-compliance with the masks and social distancing is also contributing to the growth of the case.
CDC Director Redfield as well as WHO recommend wearing a mask, even after we have a vaccine ready for use. The pandemic could also be brought under control more quickly if more and more people adopt preventive strategies.
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