It was welcome news for millions of Americans when the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on May 28 that vaccinated people could resume activities without physically distancing or wearing a mask, as long as they were in compliance with federal, state, or local regulations and business or workplace requirements.

But some vaccinated people may choose to keep wearing their masks for a variety of reasons and circumstances. That’s a decision three medical experts understand.

“Wearing a mask is not conveying that you’re paranoid, and it doesn’t hurt anyone,’” says Peter Chin-Hong, MD, professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. He, for one, continues to wear a mask even though he is vaccinated, in part to show solidarity with people in his community who are still wearing them.

Others may choose to stick with their masks for these additional reasons.

Provide an Extra Defense Against COVID-19

As the death toll from COVID-19 keeps rising, though at a slower pace, (the figure surpassed 600,000 in the United States in mid-June), vaccinated people may feel more protected against the virus wearing a mask, says Paul Offit, MD, a vaccine expert and professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The risk of contracting the virus varies geographically depending on the level of disease in the community, and not everyone assesses their personal risk in the same way.

“If you want to avoid almost any risk, get vaccinated, wear a mask indoors, and interact with others outdoors,” says Dr. Offit, who serves on the vaccine advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration.

Guard Against Variants

In June, public health officials expressed concern about the COVID-19 variant called Delta, a more transmissible version of the virus that now accounts for more than 52 percent of all cases of infection in the United States among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people. While COVID-19 vaccines protect against various variants, a mask could provide further protection, says Kenneth L. Tyler, MD, FAAN, chair of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora.

Boost Effectiveness of Vaccine

Some people with certain medical conditions may not produce as many antibodies after being immunized and wearing masks might provide extra protection, says Dr. Tyler.

“We know that a number of immunocompromised patients, either due to underlying disease or a therapy they’re taking, may not mount as effective a response as people with normal immune systems,” Dr. Tyler says. Cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, or those on immune-modifying therapy for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and brain cancer may fall into that category.

While COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be highly effective for older people, some may decide to wear masks in group situations to further reduce their risk, especially if they have underlying conditions such as diabetes or pulmonary disease that could complicate their recovery should they get infected, Dr. Tyler says.

Model Good Behavior for Children

Parents who are vaccinated may decide to keep wearing masks as way to model behavior for children who are too young to qualify for the vaccine and are still required to wear masks in school and other public places, says Dr. Chin-Hong. The same may go for families or caretakers of people who for various reasons can’t get vaccinated.  

Protect Against Influenza and Other Respiratory Illnesses

Health officials observed that rates of influenza were unusually low this past winter, a trend that suggests that maintaining physical distance and wearing a mask may offer protection in other ways, says Dr. Offit. He says his hospital also saw fewer cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common winter respiratory illness that can be serious for babies, young children, and older adults. Health officials reported recently that they are now seeing an increase in RSV cases in some regions of the country, perhaps reflecting in part the fact that people are mingling again.

Reduce Allergies

Wearing a mask might also benefit people who experience seasonal allergies, perhaps reducing the level of allergens being inhaled, says Dr. Chin-Hong.

Read More:

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Neurologic Disease Content Collection