Some fear CDC moving too fast in lifting COVID-19 mask rules for the vaccinated
Some health experts are questioning whether federal officials moved too fast in relaxing mask recommendations that would allow for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to shed face covering in most indoor and outdoor settings. And they are suggesting California and local leaders move a bit more cautiously in easing mask mandates.
Dr. John Swartzberg, a clinical professor emeritus of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health's infectious diseases division, said, "There is good science to support changing our policy. On the other hand, I'm surprised they came out with it this soon. I would've liked to have had another month under my belt of seeing the numbers continue to come down."
If California does begin allowing fully vaccinated people to be maskless in stores, who would be checking to see if those without masks were really vaccinated? Will supermarkets really be interested in checking vaccine cards at the entrance?
"I can't see grocery stores confirming that you're vaccinated. It just won't happen," Swartzberg said.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents 1.3 million essential food and retail workers, also questioned the CDC's move.
"While we all share the desire to return to a mask-free normal, today's CDC guidance is confusing and fails to consider how it will impact essential workers who face frequent exposure to individuals who are not vaccinated and refuse to wear masks," Marc Perrone, the union's international president, said in a statement. "Essential workers are still forced to play mask police for shoppers. … Are they now supposed to become the vaccination police?"
Grocery stores, however, could opt to simply retain a no-mask, no-service policy.
Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of the UC San Francisco department of epidemiology and biostatistics, tweeted that the science used in the CDC's recommendation is sound, "but who bears the brunt in policy implementation?" Some of the people less likely to be vaccinated in America, she said, are working-class people who have been too busy working or caring for family to get the vaccine. "Are we failing essential workers yet again?" she asked.
Some fear that the CDC's move will backfire and end up normalizing not wearing masks — without requiring vaccinations. That could end up hurting anyone more likely to remain unvaccinated, such as lower income residents and those who are Black and Latino, some of whom want to get vaccinated but haven't been able to do so because of factors like feeling they might miss work due to vaccine side effects or not being able to get the vaccine from a trusted place — reasons mentioned in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey.
Other experts thought the CDC made a good call and think the new guidance will entice people to get vaccinated as long as they can see the benefits of getting vaccinated. "I know many on Twitter are saying the unvaccinated will simply say they were vaxed. Some will, but many won't want to, they'll now view vaccination as something with more value and seek it out," tweeted Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Swartzberg has criticized state officials for reopening the economy too quickly twice last year, which were both followed by surges. The question is whether lifting mask mandates too quickly will cause California "to be burned a third time." It's probably not likely, but it cannot be ruled out, he said.
Swartzberg said he preferred an idea floated by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this week, who proposed two different ideas about how to ease mask mandates in California. His second idea, mentioned on Wednesday, suggesting eliminating outdoor mask mandates next month but perhaps retaining indoor mask mandates for a bit longer.
"Instead of taking giant steps, like I think the CDC took today, I think we should be taking small steps toward the same goal," Swartzberg said. "We ultimately will get there. But I think we'll get there more safely if we're more cautious."
UC San Francisco infectious disease specialist Dr. Monica Gandhi has been among experts who have urged the CDC to move faster to lift mask guidelines and was surprised at how fast federal officials acted Thursday. She welcomed the news and said science backs up the new recommendations.
She said lifting mask guidance for fully vaccinated people will provide an incentive for those who may have put off getting the shot.
"People need incentives now," Gandhi said. "I think this is going to help people who are on the fence to go and get vaccinated."
One complicating issue for local governments is that the CDC seemed to make its announcement without offering much of a hint of what was coming, and the result is that state and local officials are left with the difficult task of how to address the difficult problem of who is responsible to determine who is vaccinated and who, as a result, can be unmasked.
