Well, a lot has happened since I last posted!
It has only been 3 days but feels longer. I was on call this week and — as is typical — got busy. I still have undone notes hanging over my head but I am not on for the weekend, which is lovely. I have also not been on at night — we have one provider who works ~1.5 hours away so when he is on call he covers nights + weekends. This is one of those ‘special’ weeks!
Despite not having to work nights, I still found call to be stressful. My GME responsibilities don’t disappear during my call weeks, and we are just clinically very stretched right now — our staffing is low and our outpatient volumes are surging, in part because many patients who were not seen for a year need care! My parenting ones don’t either. I never feel like I am succeeding at work OR life during my call weeks.
Anyway. It’s mostly over now. As usual, I’m not thrilled with my own coping mechanisms, but it’s whatever.
So . . . this happened.
I know not everyone is happy with these new guidelines. I personally feel okay about them. I guess I would even say I feel generally happy about them. I do understand the concerns about anti-vaxing anti-masking people breeding variants, but honestly I think (and to some extent, I know from conversations I’ve had with patients and others) those people are already gathering in groups anyway. Now it will just be more public, I guess. I am not sure this will encourage more to vaccinate, but maybe it will. I have been encouraging vaccination in all of my patients and many parents are excited about vaccinating their 12-15 year olds.
What will we do differently? I am not sure. Obviously I will still mask at work when with patients (in part for the comfort of the patients!). I do feel more comfortable going with Josh to dine indoors — something we have not yet done. I feel more comfortable getting a massage (!). And I look forward to gathering with other vaccinated people sans masks.
However, since the kids aren’t vaccinated it doesn’t really change what we will do as a family. It doesn’t change the need for them to mask at school. I am definitely looking forward to a potential fall/winter when our entire household can be vaccinated, assuming the trials all go well!
It would feel weird going into a store unmasked but I think I would do it. I wish I could wear some sort of indicator to show others I was vaccinated! (However, if I was with the kids – would mask in solidarity).
This is a really weird political moment. And just a weird moment in general. I am interested in others’ thoughts but please be nice to each other (and to me). Unless I have readers that work for the CDC, none of us actually made these rules.
44 Comments
I have mixed feelings about the mask mandate changing. I recognize that we need to loosen guidelines to show there is a benefit to getting vaccinated. Although I don’t know that the loosening of guidelines is going to change anyone’s minds. I feel differently about this because I am immune compromised. So the CDC says I should continue to wear a mask – but my understanding is that masking protect others from getting Covid from me, but doesn’t protect me from what they are carrying… we were already being cautious between having 2 young kids and me being immune compromised. But now I can’t see myself going anywhere indoor that masks aren’t required. I am glad some stores, like Target, are keeping the mask mandate, though. I have gone there a handful of times and that is somewhere I would feel safe going as long as they keep the mandate. My husband feels differently about the mandate going away since he is super healthy. So he will continue to be our grocery getter and errand runner. So I am lucky to have a healthy person to do things like that!
I’m not really familiar with all of the ins and outs regarding immune compromised people & covid, so I’m just wondering: Is there ever expected to be a time though when this will be deemed “safe” for people in your situation? Like let’s say it’s another year from now, and everyone has had the opportunity to be vaccinated, at what point would you feel “safe” to be around unmasked people/when do you think the mask mandates should be lifted? (I think the concern is that the vaccine may not protect people like you as well as normal immune system people, right?) Just wondering when or what will ever change in that regard…unless covid like literally completely disappeared. Have you heard anything specific about what the future will look like for people like you long term- since obviously I don’t think the whole world will be masking indefinitely for eternity…Sorry you’re in that tough situation…sounds stressful to not be able to feel confident in the vaccine!
It’s hard to say when I would feel comfortable. Having more data about immune compromised people would help. And if I could get off prednisone I would feel better as that compromises my immune system the most but I am a ways from that as my RA isn’t well managed on my current drug combo… and my options are limited while breastfeeding. I would feel better if we were a little closer to herd immunity or had 70-80% fully vaccinated. But I also recognize that I am in the minority and most people want to get back to ‘normal’ maskless life. I just don’t find wearing a mask all that difficult so wasn’t really desperate for the mandate to go away.
I’ve (half) jokingly said that you can tell men never wear anything that is at all uncomfortable because wearing a mask is not nearly as bad as wearing a bra. I’m not looking forward to being told to smile again. Hope springs eternal for the end of that, but I don’t think that’s going happen…!
Ugh, I feel so weird about it. We’ve been doing quarantine hardcore because my husband has chronic kidney disease. so, pulled the 3 year old out of school, worked from home exclusively, etc. Just about to put her back in school (going back to work since my two weeks after second shot are up on Tuesday) and was comfortable with masking at school and work.
But now?
Also a Floridian, so you know how it is down here. Is he still high risk now that he’s been vaccinated? Can we please get kids vaccinated, etc. I just don’t know what to do and I want to err on the side of caution but also don’t want to be a jerk about it. blergh.
CDC guidelines does not change store guidelines, etc. so my assumption is that masks will continued to be required in most businesses. Maybe that’s a stupid assumption. If stores stop requiring masks I will stop going in person, despite being vaccinated. Outdoors, bye masks!!!
Sarah, I’m curious if you have any research on massages? I really really need one. But that’s also the one activity I’m most afraid to do. I suppose if my massage therapist were vaccinated I shouldn’t worry about it, but….. I really internalized the 15 minutes rule of exposure and an hour of being in one closed space is frankly terrifying to me still. Sigh.
I have great trust in the vaccine! So I have no problem with it. Since I’m vaccinated. Of course I’d prefer it if the therapist was too but I can’t control that part. Could you do it wearing a mask if it made you feel more comfortable?
I guess I don’t understand why you can’t ask straight up if the massage therapist is vaccinated? I think that would make me feel more comfortable and I think it also puts (appropriate) pressure on businesses to encourage their employees to get vaccinated. I do this regularly.
True or you could probably find someone private who might even be willing to show proof!
I am fully vaccinated and just had my first massage-and the therapist offered up that she was also fully vaccinated! So I felt totally comfortable-it was a wonderful massage!
that is so great! i plan on going next week on my birthday – to be truthful i was planning it anyway! But now I feel even better about it 🙂
My massage therapist and her spouse and teen son are vaccinated. She makes house calls to clients who are fully vaccinated, it has been great!
I think a massage for you is fine, likely even if the person giving you the massage has covid. However, I totally understand not feeling comfortable with that activity! I am pretty sure the data supports vaccinated people eating inside at restaurants as low risk, but it still feels weird to me, so I don’t plan on doing it for a while still.
I think the store thing may be unique to where you are located. Many places will drop the indoor mask rules immediately. The good news is if you’re vaccinated you get to care MUCH less about what everyone else is doing.
I got a massage recently (after reaching fully vaccinated status) and the place I went to required both the customer and masseuse to wear masks during the massage. I’m sure it’s different everywhere but that may be the case for you? I did still have some panicky moments, despite the masks AND my fully vaccinated status. Just so weird to be in a small space with a stranger for an hour… :-/ (but worth it!)
I’m actually in Canada and we’re still under a strict lockdown (in Ontario where I am but also in other parts). Unfortunately, our vaccine rollout has been slow and confusing. I just got my first shot of moderna yesterday so I’m feeling good about that! But my second dose isn’t scheduled until Sept. Hoping that it’ll get bumped when we get more supply. There’s also been a controversy here over the Astrazeneca vaccine, which has now been halted but leaves people who already got their first dose upset. All that being said, I am really happy for you and for everyone in the U.S.! Though based on the comments, it seems very complex. Hopefully more people will get vaccinated!
I’m in Ontario as well and received my Astra Zeneca shot 3 weeks ago. What a gong show. Was disappointed that the supply of Pfizer magically increased a week after my AZ shot. I assumed that taking AZ would speed up getting me getting vaccinated by months not weeks. Oh well, I am still more fortunate than most but a little worried about what will happen for dose 2. Happy for everyone in the US and hope all goes well in the months to come.
Your reaction is similar to some of my friends who got it. Most of them are glad to have gotten it, but confused about what happens next. My dad is a doctor in Manitoba and says research is currently deciding if another vaccine could be used as 2nd dose for those who got AZ first, or if it’s better to get AZ for the 2nd dose. Glad to hear you were able to get a vaccine, it’s been madness to get an appt! I waited a month to get mine even though I’ve been eligible for a while under Phase 2. Here’s hoping they figure things out so you can get your second dose soon, whatever that may be!!
I appreciated this article from The Guardian, which talks about other benefits of masks in addition to protection from airborne disease:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/10/the-people-who-want-to-keep-masking-its-like-an-invisibility-cloak
I have a 14 year old who got their first Pfizer dose yesterday (woohoo!!) and a 10 year old that’s not eligible to be vaccinated yet. We talked as a family and agreed that when we’re out as a family, we’d all mask up together. If fully-vaccinated family members are out by themselves, they can choose not to mask if they want. This strikes me as a good plan. (And the kids came up with it!) I am grateful that the schools are keeping the mask mandate through the end of the year. (I’m in MN. )
I’m in Canada, so we just opened up vaccinations in my region to all adults as of yesterday. I think 44% of our region’s population had gotten a first dose of the vaccine at the beginning of this week. I’ve been fully vaccinated for a week now, with a 4 month gap between doses.
Our lockdown has been super strict. There’s been a curfew in place since January. No indoor gathering allowed evidently and for some time outdoor gatherings were not allowed. The province where our extended family lives is tightly controlling its borders and won’t let anyone who isn’t a resident of that province (even if they own property in the province, are fully vaccinated, and are willing to self isolate for 2 weeks). The rules are the same for full vaccinated and non vaccinated, which is frustrating. Thankfully, schools were reopened after the first wave though.
I’m really looking forward to some restrictions being lifted (indoor gatherings amongst vaccinated people and interprovincial travel for those full vaccinated), but I must say that I hope we keep masks in public places for a long time. I think it might help us avoid variants, outbreaks stemming from unvaccinated people and it helps protect people with chronic diseases who want to be more cautious re:covid. We’ve had outbreaks in long term care homes amongst elderly with a first dose of the vaccine (after 2 weeks), likely due to unvaccinated healthcare workers.
But I truly hope the new recommendations are successful in the US, as that would really provide a lot of hope re: a long awaited return to precovid normalcy!😊
Also, I hope you enjoy your post-call weekend, a much deserved time to relax! 😊
I think that the guidance is accurate at an individual level, so in that way, I approve of the new guidelines. They are only stating what is safe for vaccinated individuals to do, and honestly I have been hearing similar guidance from experts on the covid-cautious podcast I follow (In the Bubble) for a while now, so I’m not surprised. The vaccines are really effective.
However, I wish they had also published guidance that the lifting of indoor mask mandates in local areas should depend on getting to herd immunity levels of vaccination in that area. Most areas are not there yet, and I feel for everyone who isn’t fully vaccinated yet / is immunocompromised / has young kids who aren’t vaccinated / etc. who may now be forced to come in contact with (more) unvaccinated unmasked people. Unless people are required to present proof of vaccination, mask mandates are the way to help prevent that.
Like a few other commenters, I’m in Canada where things look VERY different right now – though my husband’s entire family and some of mine live in the US – so I’m watching this with a combo of jealousy and trepidation. My province’s case numbers are significantly trending down as more of us get vaccinated, but everyone I know here has only had their first dose (were doing a 16 week gap between doses), and as such, I don’t think there is any expectation among my friends or family of life going back to “normal” anytime soon. It will be very interesting to see what happens in the US! I hope the guidelines are evidence-based. I have seen some stating that the US really should have waited just a couple more critical weeks until more were vaccinated to change these guidelines since, with such a large population, even throwing masks away one week early could lead to a surge. But, not to get too political, Americans love their freedom – perhaps at the expense of things like health, sometimes. Our mask guidance has been weird – they didn’t even mandate them indoors until freakin NOVEMBER 2020, and few people here have ever masked outdoors unless in a crowded space or gathering. I’ll definitely continue to mask in stores and indoor public spaces after I am fully vaccinated.
For now I will probably still mask up in public to make others feel comfortable and honestly after more than a year of masking it just feels weird to be out without one! However, I do sometimes not wear a mask at my Orange Theory classes that are mask options and starting June 1 all classes will be mask optional. Since being fully vaccinated I really do not worry very much about getting covid but am also aware that my kids are not vaccinated and still feel very confused about what we should and shouldn’t do this summer, especially because Arizona is very much “everything is back to normal!”
I have thought about getting an “I’m vaccinated” pin (link below) even before this point to put others at ease around me even when I am masked. But then I worry that it will be interpreted politically or something. Plus I have not seen anyone else wearing something like that so it probably wouldn’t really make a difference – ? I wish that the pandemic and vaccines were not politicized and that you could wear a sticker or pin to help promote vaccination in a positive, encouraging way.
https://dissentpins.com/products/im-vaccinated-pin there are also choices on Etsy if you search “I’m vaccinated pin”
I have so appreciated you writing so honestly about your thoughts on this topic. I feel so much the same way. I actually went to the post office yesterday without a mask (I’m fully vaccinated), but then I felt bad because the workers were all wearing masks. It’s really a strange new world, and I honestly think I feel more comfortable still wearing a mask. But like you, I’m excited to go out to dinner indoors next week. I just wish so badly it didn’t have to be political and that there didn’t have to be so much misinformation and confusion out there. I have friends and family members who have been swayed by what appears to be blatant misinformation, and it’s disenheartening. Of course there is still so much uncertainty even in the scientific community as well. But I appreciate being able to read your thoughts and perspectives as a medical professional. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing! I recently had a patient admitted with covid who falsely told the spouse that the patient was vaccinated. I just hope we can continue to have honest conversations and open discussions. That wearing a mask or not wearing one is not stigmatized either way. Some of my coworkers do not want to become vaccinated even though we have seen so many covid deaths. Others are still unsure if they want to be vaccinated and still have some antibodies. The majority have been vaccinated.
I’m a librarian and am hoping we keep the mask mandate for coming into the library for a bit longer. I’m in Massachusetts and in this area, most people have been good about staying masked. I’m assuming our indoor statewide mask mandate will be going away soon, but I’ll likely still wear mine out even though I’m fully vaccinated (and assume it will still be a requirement at work). As an introvert, I kind of like my mask. It makes me feel a bit hidden. Is that weird? Also, my husband is immune compromised and my mom is undergoing cancer treatments, so I like that I’ve gone the full year without even getting a cold. I’d hate to get her sick with anything, so I feel like masking up has helped in that regard. It’s also hard to let go of the habit of wearing a mask after having to do so for over a year. I think it’ll take me a little while to get there.
I’m not in a hurry to go to any indoor dining or really anywhere. I wonder if other introverted homebodies have noticed that social distancing has made them even more inclined to stay home. I just really like it here and think my social anxiety has gotten a bit worse over the past year. I will say that the one thing I am excited about is seeing my three best friends from high school this summer for a bbq or something since we’re all vaccinated. It will be nice to not just see each other over Zoom.
I live in the DC metro area in a very covid cautious community (I’ve never seen anyone not trying to wear a mask indoors over the last year, and very rarely seen adults not masking well – even very young children are on top of their masking here). My husband and I are vaccinated, as are my (local) in laws and my 2yr old’s daycare providers. The 2yr old is not vaccinated, obviously, so we aren’t changing a ton of behaviors. Mostly we’re sticking to small outdoor gatherings, but that’s normal for this time of year when the weather in DC is perfect.
The social activities that I’m most eager to resume in full force are very easy to accommodate under the guidelines and are comfortable for us without passing on unnecessary risk to vulnerable people – small indoor dinner parties with fully vaccinated adults; unmasked walks outside with neighbors; one on one lunches with girlfriends, mostly outdoors but indoors if the crowd is light and the restaurant is big and airy. My one “risky” behavior has been unmasked hot yoga, but I’m going to the least busy classes at 6am (a huge concession on my part) to minimize risk. Usually there are only 8-12 people in class. But the benefits of the class outweigh the risk/as a fully vaccinated person it just doesn’t feel risky at all.
If I’m being honest, I’m kinda over covid, but I’m lucky in that the activities I want to do are on the safer side + my friend group is still covid cautious, so there’s unstated communal pressure to keep making reasonable decisions. I am wearing masks for grocery or Target runs, which is still required locally. I don’t mind that, and don’t see myself stopping that anytime soon, even after it’s no longer required. Basically, if I can’t verify that the others I’m gathering with are vaccinated (and I don’t trust that they’re telling me they’re telling the truth), I’m wearing a mask. I would do a massage or facial indoors unmasked, after confirming the therapist’s vaccination. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with asking, or with sharing my own vaccination status.
I’m curious about your choice to wear a mask around people whose vaccination status is unknown to you. You are fully vaccinated and science has confirmed that even if you got Covid, you most likely don’t transmit. Breakthrough cases are extremely rare in vaccinated people. So why would you wear a mask?
I’ve heard this approach from others and am truly just curious to understand why?
It was my understanding (which you say is incorrect – I’ve not really followed the science closely) that being vaccinated didn’t mean I couldn’t catch covid and transmit it to others. Since my daughter has underlying health issues that make any illness more complicated (though it doesn’t make covid specifically more dangerous for her), continuing to wear a mask and continuing to be more conservative in the types of activities we do isn’t an unreasonable trade off for us to make until our daughter is also vaccinated. But I also don’t see masks as a big imposition, and I hope the culture shifts and it becomes more acceptable for people to wear masks when they’re sick or to protect themselves from other people’s illnesses when in public places. I very much appreciated how rarely we were sick this year, and not having to deal with seizures and hospitalizations because my daughter caught some little bug. I imagine that there are a lot of personal reasons different people have for continuing to mask up.
Totally makes sense to me!
Thanks for responding and it does make sense. I believe it was unknown at first if vaccinated people could transmit but it has become more clear that it’s not the case or is extremely rare. I appreciate you responding.
I left a long and emotional comment about this topic elsewhere but my basic feeling is that this is not going to play out fairly for kids. Very young kids have been out of school and had their lives severely restricted for over a year primarily to protect the older, more vulnerable people in their lives. So now that the vaccine is basically leveling the risk playing field, we are telling them they are the only ones who still have to wear masks etc. I don’t believe this is to protect them for their own sakes, at least not for the under 10 crowd. So who is it for? The moron adults who won’t get vaccinated? Maybe a little bit to protect the severely immune compromised but I doubt it will make that much of a difference as long as unvaccinated adults are walking around doing whatever they want. Even more so I am nervous this will affect school in the fall as there will be fewer ways left to address any bumps in case numbers. For whatever reason the people in charge of my state didn’t have the guts to consistently enforce changes that would have actually reduced risk (hello bars and CASINOS) but were fine with closing schools indefinitely. Maybe because kids can’t vote? They didn’t seem bothered by the furious parents either. Anyway I really hope that doesn’t happen again in the fall but am honestly have lost so much faith in our local government I will never trust any of them again.
I don’t know…personally I don’t understand why wearing a mask is such an inconvenience or nuisance. Why the rush to eliminate them? We are at 50+% vaccinated, could we not have waited another couple of months to change the mandate? The CDC has even said that if the numbers get worse again, the mandates may change. But I think this signifies to the public that the pandemic is done and if we do have another surge, I doubt many will go back to masking.
I am probably influenced by extremely low case rates in my area as well as above average vaccination rates. Also we still have our mask mandate for at least a little while longer.
But yes, for my three year old who still drools and has to wear a semi wet mask in 90 plus degree heat outside at daycare this summer it’s a little bit of a big deal! It’s also a lot harder for both my kids to be understood which has contributed to some minor behavior issues. I’d gladly wear one in exchange for giving them a break, especially outside. Wearing them indoors is easier and makes more sense. I have been happy for them to do it and have consistently enforced masks to protect the other people around them this entire pandemic. But I don’t have the faith that we are going to really eliminate this disease or reach very high vaccination rates anytime super soon so at some point we are going to have to say good enough for the kids too. I feel like people are assuming that there will definitely be a vaccine for kids down to 6 months old within a year but I don’t believe that we should wait for that (it may not happen!) to give kids a break- especially not if we are letting everyone especially unvaccinated adults do whatever they want! I
It might not be an inconvenience or a nuisance to you, but it definitely is to others. Wearing glasses with a mask has been horrible. I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t pinch my nose (causing headaches) or fog up (causing me not to be able to see). Also, not being able to see a person’s face is very difficult for human interaction. Are you smiling, or not? Also, for me, breathing is difficult with a mask, I feel restricted and suffocated. Some of us detest masks. It’s useful to consider that masks are, indeed, a MAJOR inconvenience AND a nuisance to some.
I totally agree. I am glad to see the mask mandates end for vaccinated people (tbh, would be happy to see them go away entirely) but what about kids? They literally cannot get a vaccine at this point, so while adults get to go mask free, kids — the lowest risk group, to my understanding — still have to wear them? It’s gross and unfair to them. Children need to interact with other people face to face, perhaps even more than adults do, and we are socializing them to think this is normal. It’s not normal. If we as a society are expected to make the choice to either give our kids a brand-new vaccine for a virus for which they’re not especially at risk (and for which there have been no long term studies), or keep masks on them indefinitely, I’ll have no choice but to go feral and live in the woods.
I’m thrilled to see the guidelines. It’s beyond about time. I will continue to respect the mandates of any place I enter but I will not wear a mask unless required. It’s time to move on.
Agreed. I’ve been especially happy to see the end of masking outdoors, which has always been nonsensical in uncrowded places.
Agreed!!
As a South African, I’m just…. jealous that you guys get to have your vaccines so quickly 😉 Our healthcare workers are still not all vaccinated (I think the last batch is being done this week and next week) and then we move onto our seniors (first 80+, then 60+ – and so on). So who knows when my husband and I will get vaccinated?!
The question I asked myself when I saw your news on Instagram (obviously!) is “how will people know that others are vaccinated?” Do you take your card around with you to prove it? I would personally not trust that method, but maybe I’m distrustful?
I am anxious to see the mask mandate eliminated especially for the kids at school. I am hoping we can just allow adults to make their own decisions about their bodies (masks, vaccines) so we can all move on. I actually had someone come into my place of business last week and call me a jerk for not getting vaccinated. Meanwhile he came into MY place of business sans mask where he could easily have called/emailed. And the schools call you whenever the kids miss a day to interrogate you as to where you have been. I just want to move past all of this because it is putting a wedge between people who have differing beliefs.
This too. I got the vaccine but loathe the judgment, vitriol and condescension leveled at people who choose not to. Let people make their own decisions.
Completely agree. I’ve seen multiple bloggers call them “COVID idiots” or “covidiots”. I understand both sides. I am vaccinated but many in my life are not. Name calling isn’t helpful, especially when their reasons are assumed.
I’m very glad everyone has been quite civil in the comments!