THIS IS NONSENSE:

“So, it’s a slippery slope. Stand up for freedom, before it’s gone. Let me explain where this is going. In 2020 – a face mask is required. In 2021 – a vaccine is required. In 2022 – a microchip is required.”  July 18, 2020 eblast received from TruthAboutVaccines.Org, a member of the United Medical Freedom Super PAC

The above is fear mongering nonsense.  If the intent of encouraging the public to wear masks to help stop the spread of Covid-19 is really part of a diabolical plot to cause more vaccines so they can chip people; then why have scientists been studying how to control the spread of disease by use of masks and social distancing – at least fifteen years before Covid 19 even existed?  Vaccines are used when spreads have not been stopped by non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI).

Therefore, if one’s intent is to encourage mass-vaccines, then buy into the above fear mongering about your freedom being threatened by nefarious motives of why we are being asked to wear masks and social distance.  Be one who does not help to stop the spread of Covid-19 (and future outbreaks) with NPI.  Contrary to what is being promoted to scare people into resistance, wearing a mask is not the same as getting a vaccine.

THIS IS WHAT CAUSES NONSENSE:

People’s concerns about mandated overuses of ineffective and harmful vaccines in the US is not without merit. Enough harm has been proven that “Vaccine Courts” have provided billions of dollars in restitution to harmed parties.

The United States government employs and affiliates with some of the world’s finest scientists and physicians. But as a whole, it has done a terrible job for decades of informing physicians and the public of how best to act when large outbreaks of environmental illnesses occur.

I could cite multiple examples from the mishandling of chronic disabilities caused by moldy buildings, to chronic Lyme disease, to disabilities and birth defects from Agent Orange.  The example that is probably best known by most Americans is when 911 clean up workers were told the air was safe and their health was not at risk. Contrary to this advice, many of the misinformed suffered a life time of chronic illnesses and early demise.  They had to fight for their healthcare and rights to restitution.

US and world health advisors got off to a rocky start in 2020 regarding Covid-19. First they promoted that it wasn’t spread by inhalation, then flipped to say it is.  As such, it is completely understandable why many are skeptical about current and upcoming Covid-19 advice. This includes the anticipated Covid-19 vaccines that are being developed at “warp speed”.  The “chipping” concern originates from advancements is universal digital identification.

THIS IS WHY THE NONSENSE NEEDS TO STOP

All of the above does not mean, nor is it logical to assume, that asking people to wear masks and social distance is part of some big plot to take away people’s freedoms.  The best way to help stop Covid-19 (and Covid-19 vaccines) is to do your part to help stop the viral spread.

Below is just a sampling of progressing research of masks to help stop the spread of disease by NPI.  As one can see, this research started long before Covid-19 and long before people became increasingly distrustful of the growing number of government mandated vaccines and surveillance techniques.

2010 CDC “Findings, Gaps, and Future Direction for Research in Nonpharmaceutical Interventions for Pandemic Influenza”

List of projects funded during 2007–2009 under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Nonpharmaceutical Intervention Studies for Pandemic Influenza RFA-CI06-010* https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/4/09-0719-t1

2009 MacIntyre CR, Cauchemez S, Dwyer DE, et al. Face mask use and control of respiratory virus transmission in households. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009;15(2):233-241. doi:10.3201/eid1502.081167

We found that adherence to mask use significantly reduced the risk for ILI-associated infection, but <50% of participants wore masks most of the time. We concluded that household use of face masks is associated with low adherence and is ineffective for controlling seasonal respiratory disease. However, during a severe pandemic when use of face masks might be greater, pandemic transmission in households could be reduced.

2010 Aiello AE, Coulborn RM, Aragon TJ, et al. Research findings from nonpharmaceutical intervention studies for pandemic influenza and current gaps in the research. Am J Infect Control. 2010;38(4):251-258. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2009.12.007

In June 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a request for applications to identify, improve, and evaluate the effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs)-strategies other than vaccines and antiviral medications-to mitigate the spread of pandemic influenza within communities and across international borders (RFA-CI06-010). These studies have provided major contributions to seasonal and pandemic influenza knowledge. Nonetheless, key concerns were identified related to the acceptability and protective efficacy of NPIs. Large-scale intervention studies conducted over multiple influenza epidemics, as well as smaller studies in controlled laboratory settings, are needed to address the gaps in the research on transmission and mitigation of influenza in the community setting. The current novel influenza A (H1N1) pandemic underscores the importance of influenza research. 

2010 Cowling BJ, Zhou Y, Ip DK, Leung GM, Aiello AE. Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: a systematic review. Epidemiol Infect. 2010;138(4):449-456. doi:10.1017/S0950268809991658

There is some evidence to support the wearing of masks or respirators during illness to protect others, and public health emphasis on mask wearing during illness may help to reduce influenza virus transmission. There are fewer data to support the use of masks or respirators to prevent becoming infected.

2010 Brienen NC, Timen A, Wallinga J, van Steenbergen JE, Teunis PF. The effect of mask use on the spread of influenza during a pandemic. Risk Anal. 2010;30(8):1210-1218. doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2010.01428.x

We conclude that population-wide use of face masks could make an important contribution in delaying an influenza pandemic. Mask use also reduces the reproduction number, possibly even to levels sufficient for containing an influenza outbreak.

2013 Davies A, Thompson KA, Giri K, Kafatos G, Walker J, Bennett A. Testing the efficacy of homemade masks: would they protect in an influenza pandemic? Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7(4):413-418. doi:10.1017/dmp.2013.43

The median-fit factor of the homemade masks was one-half that of the surgical masks. Both masks significantly reduced the number of microorganisms expelled by volunteers, although the surgical mask was 3 times more effective in blocking transmission than the homemade mask.

2020 MacIntyre CR, Chughtai AA. A rapid systematic review of the efficacy of face masks and respirators against coronaviruses and other respiratory transmissible viruses for the community, healthcare workers and sick patients. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020;108:103629. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103629

The study suggests that community mask use by well people could be beneficial, particularly for COVID-19, where transmission may be pre-symptomatic. The studies of masks as source control also suggest a benefit, and may be important during the COVID-19 pandemic in universal community face mask use as well as in health care settings. Trials in healthcare workers support the use of respirators continuously during a shift. This may prevent health worker infections and deaths from COVID-19, as aerosolisation in the hospital setting has been documented.

2020 Ngonghala CN, Iboi E, Eikenberry S, et al. Mathematical assessment of the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on curtailing the 2019 novel Coronavirus. Math Biosci. 2020;325:108364. doi:10.1016/j.mbs.2020.108364

Using face-masks in public (including the low efficacy cloth masks) is very useful in minimizing community transmission and burden of COVID-19, provided their coverage level is high. The masks coverage needed to eliminate COVID-19 decreases if the masks-based intervention is combined with the strict social-distancing strategy. 

2020 Keshtkar-Jahromi M, Sulkowski M, Holakouie-Naieni K. Public Masking: An Urgent Need to Revise Global Policies to Protect against COVID-19. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;102(6):1160-1161. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0305

resistance to mass masking seems inconsistent with our knowledge of the rate of asymptomatic infections and the risk of transmission from these individuals.

WHAT IS THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE?

Precautionary principle, approach in policy making that legitimizes the adoption of preventative measures to address potential risks to the public or environment associated with certain activities or policies.

If you honestly believe that someone is going to put a chip in you under the pretense of a Covid-19 vaccine, then take the precautions necessary to stop the spread of the virus in the first place.

Be part of the solution, not part of the conspiracy theory problem. Take the precautions of wearing a mask when appropriate and if you are physically able.  Social distance as much as possible.  Keep your hands, face, and masks clean.

I and many others honestly believe that we can beat this virus down to nothing and get back to a working economy, if we all quickly take these reasonable precautions.

Sharon Kramer

Advocate for Integrity in Health Marketing