Thank you for continuing to be such a voice of reason and such an advocate for the children, Dr. Prasad. I have noticed that several of my kids friends (ages 7 -- 10) who were recently Covid vaccinated last month all now have Covid. Thankfully their symptoms are not serious -- mostly cold-like. But it's still rather staggering for me to observe this. I have not given my kids this shot (they had been exposed to Covid back in March 2020 with very minimal symptoms) and they have been in close contact with their friends who have Covid now, and they did not test positive or have symptoms. I am so troubled by the lack of transparency around this issue when it comes to young children...Especially ones who have already acquired immunity! I live in San Francisco, so as you can imagine, my peers think I'm insane for waiting on this shot for my kids...But I will withstand all of their judgement for what I see with my own eyes, and thankfully, what I've learned from you and other brave truth tellers. Thank you and Happy 2022!
I got a lease violation for not wearing a cloth mask in my apartment building in LA. I feel so conflicted now every time I step out of my apartment because I know wearing masks is unnecessary, it feels intrusive but I don't want to be evicted. What a world!
One thing you're wrong about: Some of us are actually over 40, unvaxxed, haven't had covid (laptop class, represent), and still interested in the value of masking in certain situations. Just because the political messaging over the last 2 years has sent someone into a full-fledged tizzy about vaccine safety and efficacy doesn't mean they're against other mitigation measures when warranted.
I happened to be off work today and tuned into the Today show. I was shocked that there was an entire segment on how to properly double mask your child. They recommended a kids size surgical mask and then a cloth mask over it. Have these people ever met kids? We have lost our minds 🤦♀️
Dr. Prasad, all this information seems to be falling on deaf ears. How do we persuade people to listen or even think differently?
I will likely be fired in March for refusing the booster (already vaxxed). I brought up natural immunity, as I am in the Health and Wellness committee and was overruled by "we're following the CDC guidelines".
To begin with, Korean certified masks are KF94 masks not KN94 masks. Plus the KF94 masks I wear in certain siutations are not "uncomfortable". And finally, I defy your stereotype, you've made.
I had a mild symptomatic case of covid, so I have natural immunity, but I have also been waiting for a more conventional vaccine (e.g. protein sub-unit vaccine). I have a number of issues and concerns regarding a new mRNA platform as well as a vaccine reliant on just a few epitopes of the spike protein (so I still have some issues with protein sub-unit vaccines that only use spike proteins for the antigen). While I understand that natural immunity is better than vaccinated immunity, I'm still not convinced that natural immunity protects one against reinfection especially with newer variants. I also understand that omicron may ultimately function like a live attenuated vaccine. But models of prevalence of omicron aren't very accurate, and since there is so little sequencing done in the US, we really don't know what variants are dominant, and some forms of Delta Plus may also evade b and t cells.
With that noted, regardless, I still wear a mask in certain situations, not only because I have to, but also to reduce viral loads I'm exposed to. That type of mask is a KF94. I've been wearing KF94 masks since November of 2020. I purposely wear masks where I am indoors in confined areas with other people like waiting rooms at doctors's offices. I concur with you that mask wearing and not wearing in restaurants or bars is incredibly ridiculous. Wearing masks outdoors is just plain silly and signify that people don't understand that respiratory viral transmission is primarily via airborne aerosols not fomites or larger droplets.
Furthermore as I note in these blog posts,
-Viral transmission and more adventures in mask wearing
what's really needed is an emphasis on improving air quality through improved ventilation, filtration, uv lighting and CO2 monitoring. That's what's really needed in classrooms, offices and especially in other locations where masks are removed to eat or drink.
I think the biggest problem with masking is that it's just mindless without any real understanding as to the basics of respiratory viral transmission. Without that understanding, most mask wearing is just theater that actually gives people a false sense of security. So mindless masking may actually increase risk of exposure and infection rather than reduce those risks.
No to all mandates of "masking". Medical personnel know that surgical masks are useful for surgeries only, and that this virus is by no means a world ending pandemic. All other masking should end.
How can it be that this perpetual mask-mania continues, let alone how it even started.
It is interesting to read the CDC guidance on masks from the H1N1 pandemic combined with the knowledge that there has been nothing that scientifically changed regarding mask effectiveness.
Could you present some data comparing covid risk to other risks we accept (including flu, but isn’t it more contagious than flu)? I wish this was more clearly laid out in messaging.
I’d also love to see the longer post on recommendations for immunocompromised people. This is a lingering conflict I have, about how responsible we as a society should be to protect vulnerable and disabled folks. Though I understand that if we say we should do things to protect them from covid, then we also have to say we should have been doing them for flu.
“Children are a vulnerable group that would face the longest and, thus, most profound consequences of a potentially risky mask use. Basic research at the cellular level regarding mask-induced triggering of the transcription factor HIF with potential promotion of immunosuppression and carcinogenicity also appears to be useful under this circumstance. Our scoping review shows the need for a systematic review.
The described mask-related changes in respiratory physiology can have an adverse effect on the wearer’s blood gases sub-clinically and in some cases also clinically manifest and, therefore, have a negative effect on the basis of all aerobic life, external and internal respiration, with an influence on a wide variety of organ systems and metabolic processes with physical, psychological and social consequences for the individual human being.”
We need to make sure it is actually worth all of the potential downsides—even those not studied (no longer seeing people smile at you) before recommending or requiring masks. Dr. Prasad argues that has yet to be proven.
Thank you for continuing to be such a voice of reason and such an advocate for the children, Dr. Prasad. I have noticed that several of my kids friends (ages 7 -- 10) who were recently Covid vaccinated last month all now have Covid. Thankfully their symptoms are not serious -- mostly cold-like. But it's still rather staggering for me to observe this. I have not given my kids this shot (they had been exposed to Covid back in March 2020 with very minimal symptoms) and they have been in close contact with their friends who have Covid now, and they did not test positive or have symptoms. I am so troubled by the lack of transparency around this issue when it comes to young children...Especially ones who have already acquired immunity! I live in San Francisco, so as you can imagine, my peers think I'm insane for waiting on this shot for my kids...But I will withstand all of their judgement for what I see with my own eyes, and thankfully, what I've learned from you and other brave truth tellers. Thank you and Happy 2022!
I got a lease violation for not wearing a cloth mask in my apartment building in LA. I feel so conflicted now every time I step out of my apartment because I know wearing masks is unnecessary, it feels intrusive but I don't want to be evicted. What a world!
One thing you're wrong about: Some of us are actually over 40, unvaxxed, haven't had covid (laptop class, represent), and still interested in the value of masking in certain situations. Just because the political messaging over the last 2 years has sent someone into a full-fledged tizzy about vaccine safety and efficacy doesn't mean they're against other mitigation measures when warranted.
I happened to be off work today and tuned into the Today show. I was shocked that there was an entire segment on how to properly double mask your child. They recommended a kids size surgical mask and then a cloth mask over it. Have these people ever met kids? We have lost our minds 🤦♀️
Dr. Prasad, all this information seems to be falling on deaf ears. How do we persuade people to listen or even think differently?
I will likely be fired in March for refusing the booster (already vaxxed). I brought up natural immunity, as I am in the Health and Wellness committee and was overruled by "we're following the CDC guidelines".
You mean Prozac? Not Prosac?
To begin with, Korean certified masks are KF94 masks not KN94 masks. Plus the KF94 masks I wear in certain siutations are not "uncomfortable". And finally, I defy your stereotype, you've made.
I had a mild symptomatic case of covid, so I have natural immunity, but I have also been waiting for a more conventional vaccine (e.g. protein sub-unit vaccine). I have a number of issues and concerns regarding a new mRNA platform as well as a vaccine reliant on just a few epitopes of the spike protein (so I still have some issues with protein sub-unit vaccines that only use spike proteins for the antigen). While I understand that natural immunity is better than vaccinated immunity, I'm still not convinced that natural immunity protects one against reinfection especially with newer variants. I also understand that omicron may ultimately function like a live attenuated vaccine. But models of prevalence of omicron aren't very accurate, and since there is so little sequencing done in the US, we really don't know what variants are dominant, and some forms of Delta Plus may also evade b and t cells.
With that noted, regardless, I still wear a mask in certain situations, not only because I have to, but also to reduce viral loads I'm exposed to. That type of mask is a KF94. I've been wearing KF94 masks since November of 2020. I purposely wear masks where I am indoors in confined areas with other people like waiting rooms at doctors's offices. I concur with you that mask wearing and not wearing in restaurants or bars is incredibly ridiculous. Wearing masks outdoors is just plain silly and signify that people don't understand that respiratory viral transmission is primarily via airborne aerosols not fomites or larger droplets.
Furthermore as I note in these blog posts,
-Viral transmission and more adventures in mask wearing
https://beyondspin.wordpress.com/2021/10/16/viral-transmission-and-more-adventures-in-mask-wearing/
-The psychology of masking
https://beyondspin.wordpress.com/2021/06/22/the-psychology-of-masking/
- Why Mandates don't work
https://beyondspin.wordpress.com/2021/12/28/why-mandates-are-pointless/
what's really needed is an emphasis on improving air quality through improved ventilation, filtration, uv lighting and CO2 monitoring. That's what's really needed in classrooms, offices and especially in other locations where masks are removed to eat or drink.
I think the biggest problem with masking is that it's just mindless without any real understanding as to the basics of respiratory viral transmission. Without that understanding, most mask wearing is just theater that actually gives people a false sense of security. So mindless masking may actually increase risk of exposure and infection rather than reduce those risks.
###
No to all mandates of "masking". Medical personnel know that surgical masks are useful for surgeries only, and that this virus is by no means a world ending pandemic. All other masking should end.
Vinay - love your stuff, but I think you need to pull this and repost after some copy editing. Or you posted the first draft by accident.
How can it be that this perpetual mask-mania continues, let alone how it even started.
It is interesting to read the CDC guidance on masks from the H1N1 pandemic combined with the knowledge that there has been nothing that scientifically changed regarding mask effectiveness.
https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/masks.htm
Thanks for laying this out so clearly.
Could you present some data comparing covid risk to other risks we accept (including flu, but isn’t it more contagious than flu)? I wish this was more clearly laid out in messaging.
I’d also love to see the longer post on recommendations for immunocompromised people. This is a lingering conflict I have, about how responsible we as a society should be to protect vulnerable and disabled folks. Though I understand that if we say we should do things to protect them from covid, then we also have to say we should have been doing them for flu.
Please consider…
Masks need to be changed every two hours at a minimum due to bacteria in the mask:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6037910/.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8072811/
“Children are a vulnerable group that would face the longest and, thus, most profound consequences of a potentially risky mask use. Basic research at the cellular level regarding mask-induced triggering of the transcription factor HIF with potential promotion of immunosuppression and carcinogenicity also appears to be useful under this circumstance. Our scoping review shows the need for a systematic review.
The described mask-related changes in respiratory physiology can have an adverse effect on the wearer’s blood gases sub-clinically and in some cases also clinically manifest and, therefore, have a negative effect on the basis of all aerobic life, external and internal respiration, with an influence on a wide variety of organ systems and metabolic processes with physical, psychological and social consequences for the individual human being.”
Heart rate and oxygen levels are affected:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33670983/
Heart rate, microclimate (temperature, humidity) and subjective ratings are significantly influenced by wearing facemasks:
Heart rate, microclimate (temperature, humidity) and subjective ratings were significantly influenced by the wearing of different kinds of facemasks.
Surgical mask induced deoxygenation should be studied in kids before recommending or requiring it of kids:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18500410/
Mask use for one university class is less than ideal, but extrapolate to small children for much longer time periods:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33516744/
Lip reading, language acquisition, social cues, and communication are all impacted by mask wearing: Yale Child Studies
https://globalnews.ca/video/7706730/can-masks-impact-a-childs-speech-and-language-development
We need to make sure it is actually worth all of the potential downsides—even those not studied (no longer seeing people smile at you) before recommending or requiring masks. Dr. Prasad argues that has yet to be proven.
Prozac! 😹😹😹Bring on those randomized control trials for the hyper paranoid 🙏🏼