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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05182021_Cantrell_COVID masking ATTACHMENTDear all – I am writing about the lifting of the statewide mask mandate and the next steps your offices are looking to take. I believe that prior in the pandemic, masks were vital to controlling the spread of Covid-19 and saved countless lives. I supported the quick actions your offices took to implementing mandatory mask wearing in public. However, with the advent of abundant vaccines and the biggest challenge for our state in overcoming hesitancy, I urge caution on how you implement and message any mask wearing clarifications to ensure we don’t undermine the benefits of vaccines. In reaching people who remain hesitant to vaccines, I would encourage us to continually highlight the following points: • Vaccines are safe and effective. • Vaccines prevent individuals from contracting Covid-19 • Vaccines prevent individuals from spreading Covid-19 to others. I understand there are caveats to each of the above (for example there has been no peer-reviewed publications fully confirming transmission is interrupted via vaccination – extremely unlikely since, if true, would be the only vaccine to prevent disease and not transmission). I believe that these caveats are not significant enough to risk undermining these central points. If we encourage and mandate the wearing of masks by those that are fully vaccinated, we are undermining that the vaccine prevents infection and transmission. It’s easy for anyone hesitant to ask for what benefit should we get vaccinated if we’re being told our safety and the safety of other is primarily dependent upon us wearing a mask, not a vaccine. If we are concerned about verifying that those without a mask are truly vaccinated, we are putting our efforts towards policing the actions of all for those who are already safe through vaccination instead of outreach to those who are hesitant. The impact of lifting mask mandates is psychologically jarring – what has been a visible and physical representation of our safety is being replaced with an invisible immunity through vaccination. However, the safety of individuals is far more effective through vaccinations than masking, now more than ever with available and abundant vaccines. Our resources are limited, and our challenges remain steep. We should marshal all our efforts to overcoming hesitancy. I strongly encourage you to prevent any undermining of the effectiveness of vaccines through any messaging and points of clarification. I would even encourage those who feel comfortable to model these benefits of vaccination by not wearing masks to show your level of comfort and belief in the effectiveness of vaccines to those who remain hesitant. Best Regards, Ross Cantrell CC: • The Honorable Jay Inslee: Governor of Washington State • The Honorable Kathy Lofy: Washington State Health Officer • The Honorable Umair Shah: Washington State Secretary of Health • Vicki Guse: Adams County Health Administrator • D. Brady Woodbury, MPH Asotin County Health Administrator • Dr. Amy Person, MD, Benton - Franklin Health District Board Officer • Dr. Malcolm Butler, Chelan – Douglas Health District Board Officer • Dr. Allison Berry, MD, MPH – Clallam County Health Officer • Dr. Alan Melnick, MD, MPH, CPH – Clark County Health Officer • Martha Lanman – Columbia County Health Administrator • Carole Harrison – Cowlitz County Health Director Administrator • Matt Schanz – Northeast Tri County Health District Administrator • Dr. Larry Jecha – Garfield County Health Officer • Dr. Alexander L. Brzezny, MD, MPH, FAAFP – Grant County Health Officer • Grays Harbor County Board of Health • Keith Higman – Island County Health Department Director • Jefferson County Board of Health • Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, MD – King County Health Officer • Dr. Gib Morrow, MD, MPH – Kitsap County Health Officer • Dr. Mark Larson – Kittitas County Health Officer • Erinn Quinn – Klickitat County Public Health Director • Dr. Rachel Wood – Lewis County Health Officer • Ed Dzedzy – Lincoln County Public Health Administrator • Dr. Daniel Stein, MD – Mason County Health Officer • Okanogan County Board of Health • Jackie Smith – Pacific County Health Educator • Cindan Gizzi – Pierce County Deputy Director • Frank E. James – San Juan County Health Officer • Skagit County Board of Health • Skamania County Board of Health • Mary O'Leary – Snohomish County Health Educator • Dr. Francisco R. Velázquez – Spokane Regional Board Health Officer • Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek – Thurston County Health Officer • Wahkikakum County Board of Health • Jessalyn Waring Bruce – Walla Walla Health Educator • Erika Lautenbach, MPH – Whatcom County Health Director • Dr. Brad Bowman – Whitman County Health Officer • Dr. Larry Jecha – Yakima County Health Officer