The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States recently released a colorful chart — as part of its Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People — which recommends via illustrations how both vaccinated people and people who are not yet vaccinated can participate in various activities safely…
Wait a Minute…Fully Vaccinated People Do Not Need This Preventative Measure?
…and it uses two images of a generic person: one without a mask, which represents that preventative measures are not needed; and one with a mask, which represents that preventative measures are needed. Also, green represents the safest activity; yellow represents a less safe activity; and red represents the least safe activity.
The chart seems to be sensible, for the most part — but one area caught my eye, which is located below the chart…
…and while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention correctly and appropriately recommends that people who are not vaccinated should wear a mask, stay six feet apart, and wash hands as preventative measures, the agency claims that fully vaccinated people need only wear a mask — and nothing else.
Summary
Although the preventative measures which are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seem to specifically be aimed at preventing people from contracting and spreading the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, my concern is that the area which is outlined in the red rectangle can be mistaken to claim that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wash their hands — that that preventative measure is generally optional.
I attribute an important part of my success of not contracting a single airborne illness in many years to washing my hands thoroughly on a regular basis — and not to the point of being obsessive compulsive, either. Despite not being able to prove that definitively, the recommendations for washing hands by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for many years supports what I do.
As for distancing, I wrote in this article called 5 Reasons Why I Have Not Changed Anything Despite 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic back on Monday, March 23, 2020: “Unless I am in a gregarious mood — which is not typical for me — I arguably pretty much invented the practice of avoiding other people whenever possible; so the recommendation of distancing myself at least six feet from other people requires no change on my part.” Vaccinated or not, I intend to continue this practice.
My opinion is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should have either recommended that all people should stay six feet apart and wash hands as preventative measures — or perhaps left out what is in the red rectangle altogether.
I have written numerous articles over the years espousing the virtues and benefits of properly and thoroughly washing your hands:
- 5 Reasons Why I Have Not Changed Anything Despite 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic
- My Unproven Secret to Not Contracting a Virus in Years
- How to Avoid Getting Sick Whether or Not You Are Traveling
- The One Best Way to Avoid the Flu and Prevent Yourself From Getting Sick
- 16 Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling? You Only Need One Primary Tip…
- Will Guests Wash Their Hands of Westin Properties Because of Less Soap?
- Is Handling Food With Bare Hands Disgusting?
- Before Handling Your Food, She Sneezes Without Washing
All photographs ©2016 and ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
