Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have been encouraging the wearing of masks to slow the spread of the virus. Now, many people who have been vaccinated are wondering if they can ditch their masks. "Absolutely not," said Dr. Nancy Nielsen, Senior Associate Dean for Health Policy at UB's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
During her weekly conversation with WBFO, Nielsen referenced studies that have been examining vaccine effectiveness.
"We learned from a study that vaccination with those two vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) is 80 percent effective against infection," Nielsen said.
"That's really good news."
Masks, though still play an important role.
"Remember one-fifth of those who got vaccinated, got infected. They weren't sick but they got infected," Nielsen pointed out.
"We know that people who are infected and asymptomatic are a major reason for spread to other people."The best way to stop asymptomatic spread, Nielsen says, is to continue wearing masks even if you've been vaccinated.
