People wearing masks (Image via Kompas)

Masks More Effective than Vaccine?

The title above might be appalling. Is the vaccine we are longing for outperformed by masks? Research says so. At least for now.

Robert Redfield, the Director of Centre of Disease Control (CDC) claimed to have scientifically proved that masks are more effective than a vaccine. The proof is real that masks are our best protective equipment for the time being.

He even said that masks were more able to guarantee our safety compared to the anticipated vaccine. Redfield revealed potential vaccine candidates, expected to be limitedly available by the end of this year, would only have immunogenicity – a vaccine’s ability to develop immunity to a virus – level of 70%. If a person fails to receive immune response, he elaborates, then the vaccine cannot protect them, but masks can. There are masks with filtrating capabilities of more than 70%.

It is the strong recommendation of CDC and WHO for people to wear masks. Masks are proven helpful to protect users from covid-19 virus which is transmitted through droplets and aerosols. Having the nose and mouth covered when maintaining distance is hardly possible is important.

Redfield’s remarks were met by pushback and criticism from the United States President, Donald Trump. Trump said that Redfield was mistaken when he came up with his statement about masks’ effectivity to prevent one from contracting the virus.

It is to be known that in the emergence of this pandemic, President Trump did not urge the American people to wear masks. However, his position on this has changed. 

Source: https://bit.ly/3kqVSH4