Why You Should Wear a Mask Even If You're Vaccinated

The year 2020 drastically changed our lifestyles: We need to wash our clothes after a single-use, wash our hands or take a bath every time we step out of our house, maintain social distance even from our loved ones, keep sanitizing our hands, wear a mask, and so many other precautions. We all wanted to be optimistic and thought that the end of the year would mean respite for us. It was easy for us to blame the year for all our ordeals. However, the end of the year didn't bring any respite for the people of the world. The next glimmer of hope is in the form of the vaccines. However, would life return to normalcy even if you're vaccinated? Let's ponder over this question together.

​The ever-evolving virus

We are in the second year of the pandemic, and we have already seen four variants of the COVID-19 virus: The Alpha variant was first seen in the UK in September 2020, the Beta variant in South Africa in May 2020, Gamma variant in Brazil in November 2020, and Delta variant in India in October 2020. This virus, like all viruses, keeps evolving.

Additionally, 100% protection against any variants is next to impossible, even if you follow all the precautions. However, if you follow all the guidelines, you're giving yourself that extra chance of protection against this deadly virus. Vaccinating yourself and your loved ones is one of the guidelines and is an added ammunition in your health arsenal. But relying just on the vaccination wouldn't be enough. You need to be prepared for all the new variants, and the best way to do so is to follow the other guidelines until the authorities ask you not to.

Does the vaccine give you an instantaneous effect?

To give you the short answer, no! This virus has resulted in a pandemic. Hence, the vaccine wouldn't work like an antacid, showing its results in 6 seconds. The results may not even manifest for another six days; according to the CDC of the US, "It typically takes two weeks after you are fully vaccinated for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19". In fact, because of specific side effects, your immunity for a week after you take the vaccine can be lower than what it was before you took the vaccine. Hence, following the guidelines during these two weeks becomes quintessential.

It is easy to think that once you're completely vaccinated and have completed two weeks, you can do away with the most irritating aspect of the guidelines, wearing a mask. Read on to understand why you shouldn't.

Protect your loved ones

As mentioned earlier, there are many variants of this virus. Some of these variants result in asymptomatic disease. This would mean that while the symptoms may not manifest in you, you may still be an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. If your loved ones aren't vaccinated, they may be exposed to the virus because you didn't follow the guidelines. Even if your loved ones are vaccinated, they may still be at risk of contracting the disease as they may have lower immunity. Any number of reasons could cause this. This isn't just limited to your loved ones. We as a nation are yet to reach the stage called "herd immunity".

On the flip side, we do not fully understand how well our Covid-19 vaccines work against the new variants. You need to protect yourself from the variants of the virus too, wearing a mask helps not only others but also helps you. To sum it up, even if you're vaccinated, you may become an asymptomatic carrier and/or spread the virus to someone with low immunity if you don't follow the guidelines. Thus, for the sake of moral responsibility towards your fellow countrymen, you need to follow the guidelines until the authorities say it is safe not to.

What precautions to take?

There are two layers of precautions you can take. The first layer is to follow the guidelines mentioned by the government. The second is to ensure your family's safety by investing in the right health insurance protection plan.

Government guidelines:

Now that you know how important it is to follow the guidelines, let's revisit them:

• Clean your hands frequently with soap or sanitizer.
• Wear a mask whenever you step outside your house into the public.
• Maintain social distancing of at least six feet.
• Avoid going into crowded places as much as possible.
• The vaccine isn't the ultimate protection. If you develop any symptoms, get medical help.

Your extra efforts:

You may take a shower after you reach home, wash your clothes and take all other extra precautions other than the ones mentioned above. You can even incorporate healthy eating and a daily exercise routine for better immunity. However, life is unpredictable, and we've all received the news in some form or the other, where the Coronavirus has adversely affected the lives of people around us. Many people near us have suffered due to insufficient finances during this pandemic. There's only so much a healthy lifestyle can do to protect you. You can ensure financial protection for yourself and your loved ones with one simple health insurance plan from Corona Kavach Policy, Niva Bupa Health Insurance.

With this health insurance policy, you get health insurance benefits like a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs, avail of home care treatment, cover hospitalization expenses, and rest assured about the comorbidities arising from COVID-19. Using a cashless health insurance plan like Corona Kavach, you can medically insure up to 2 adults and four kids in one go.

To sum it up

Wearing a mask or following the guidelines after almost two years seems like a daunting task. And wearing one or following any of the guidelines after being vaccinated may seem redundant. However, when you consider the cons of not adhering to the guidelines, you will realize that following them still outweighs getting rid of them entirely. These guidelines will stay in place probably until we as a nation achieve herd immunity. Let's look forward to the day when the authorities confirm that wearing a mask is no longer necessary. Until then, vaccinated or not, let's pledge to follow the guidelines. And while we are at it, let's go that extra mile and get the best health insurance for the entire family: Corona Kavach Policy, Niva Bupa Health Insurance.