Why is the United States allowing vaccinated people to stop wearing chinstrap and when will this happen in Argentina?

Some countries are starting to see ever closer the return to a life similar to that experienced before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In Israel, for example, the government lifted the obligation wear a mask in public places, while, in a similar vein, the United States announced on Tuesday that those vaccinated can do without the chin strap on the outside, except when there are large crowds. Argentina is still far from reaching this stage, it could happen in 2022. Meanwhile, in the midst of the second wave of the disease, authorities are calling for continued and intensified care.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed their recommendations for care during the pandemic. Specifically, people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, that is, who have already received two doses, may do not wear a mask outside walk, run or cycle alone or with a family member.

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They can also take it off when dining in outdoor restaurants accompanied by friends from various family nuclei. In the case of small social gatherings held indoors, can omit its use with friends and family members also vaccinated with both doses or, failing this, if there is a mixture between immunized and unvaccinated.

This lifting of restrictions has to do with progress of the vaccination plan in the country. That is, 42.1% of the American population has already been vaccinated against the coronavirus. It is third country with the highest number of people vaccinated, behind the United Kingdom (49.7%) and Israel (62.3%).

There is, according to specialists, the explanation of why Argentina, which has 14% of its population vaccinated, You will not yet be able to advance in the relaxation of personal care. “The percentage of people vaccinated with two doses is very low in the country, it does not reach a million people,” he remarked in dialogue with TN.com.ar the infectologist Eduardo López.

He said he does not believe that a scenario of a return to a life similar to that experienced before the start of the pandemic is possible in Argentina during 2021, unless something “very particular happens that drastically reduce cases ”and immunization of “70% of the population” is carried out.

For his part, in dialogue with this medium, the infectologist and virologist Mario Lozano placeholder image He clarified: “Very few people have received a very effective vaccine like Sputnik V, Moderna or Pfizer, which is the one used in the United States. and that they can get coronavirus ”.

“A vaccine that has 95% protection means that, for every 100 people vaccinated, only five can be infected, but at the same time those who are infected will be protected and will have a mild illness ”, Indian. However, he stressed that a person already vaccinated “does not know whether they belong to the majority group of those who do not contract or spread the disease or to a minority, who can become infected” and transmit the virus.

For this reason, in many countries maintain care until the end of the pandemic. “In Argentina, we should have at least half of the population vaccinated to relax care, which, at this rate, could happen in September. Although people who have been vaccinated are less susceptible to contagion, this possibility is not zero ”, highlighted.

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In the same vein, the infectologist declared Humberto shot down. “If, from the main results on the effectiveness of vaccines, we know that they are used to prevent the development of serious and serious disease, it must also be said that many of them they do not prevent infection, that is, the disease replicates in you and this viral replication is sufficient to promote transmission to other people, ”he explained.

Although he noted that some preliminary studies would indicate that vaccination “reduces infections and the viral load of those who are infected”, the general recommendation is continue to maintain social distancing and the use of a chin strap, at least until the vaccination plan is sufficiently advanced.

Finally, he underlined another important factor: “In addition to supporting the protocols for the possibility of transmitting the virus even during vaccination, it is important to stress that, in the context of new variants of the coronavirus, some could affect the effectiveness of vaccines ”. “We are not 100% aware of this virus. The recommendation is to continue to take care of the possibility of contracting a new strain, ”he concluded.