Behind the CDC’s new COVID-19 mask guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated

05/21/21 • 9 min

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Last week, the CDC updated its guidance on mask-wearing in public for individuals that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The agency stated, "if you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic." That means fully vaccinated individuals can wear masks indoors or outdoors if they choose to.

Unsurprisingly, this guidance was met with controversy.

Some critics felt the guidelines were too abrupt while others questioned if the guidelines hold up principles of health equity. On today's episode of Health Affairs This Week, Health Affairs' Blog Editor Chris Fleming and Director of Equity Vabren Watts review the CDC guidelines and discuss the criticism and remaining questions surrounding the agency's decision.

Related Links:

When You've Been Fully Vaccinated (CDC)
Fauci Says Public Is 'Misinterpreting' Latest CDC Mask Guidance (CNBC)
The CDC's Mask Guidance Is A Mess. Biden Needs To Clean It Up (Washington Post)
Community Use Of face Masks And COVID-19: Evidence From A Natural Experiment Of State Mandates In The US (Health Affairs)

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Unsurprisingly, this guidance was met with controversy.

Related Links:

When You've Been Fully Vaccinated (CDC)
Fauci Says Public Is 'Misinterpreting' Latest CDC Mask Guidance (CNBC)
The CDC's Mask Guidance Is A Mess. Biden Needs To Clean It Up (Washington Post)
Community Use Of face Masks And COVID-19: Evidence From A Natural Experiment Of State Mandates In The US (Health Affairs)

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

Previous Episode

Three unanswered questions for telehealth's future

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The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the telehealth landscape. Many physicians and patients had their first experience with a telehealth visit as lockdown measures limited in-person physician offices.

Many questions remain whether the telehealth explosion is a flash-in-the-pan success or if it will have long-lasting changes in patient visit behaviors.

Health Affairs' Chris Fleming and Rob Lott join Health Affairs This Week to discuss a recently published series of blog articles on the topic and unpack the biggest questions regarding the future of telehealth, including:

Should Medicare continue payment parity?
Where does payment reform stand on telehealth?
What are current barriers affecting implementation of telehealth?

Related Links:

The Coming Conflict Over Tele-Visits: The Need For Innovation In Payment And Information Sharing (Health Affairs Blog)
Understanding The Case For Telehealth Payment Parity (Health Affairs Blog)
Congress: Act Now To Ensure Telehealth Access For Medicare Benefits (Health Affairs Blog)
Mutual Recognition Of Physician Licensure By States Would Provide For Better Patient Care (Health Affairs Blog)
How Telehealth Can Enable New Care Management Strategies In Alternative Payment Models (Health Affairs Blog)

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Next Episode

Does the US have a drug innovation problem?

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Last week, Representative Katie Porter took AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez to task on drug pricing during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing. Porter highlighted the CEO's high salary while pointing to increases in drug prices in the pharmaceutical industry.

The narrative casts pharmaceutical companies as villains but it's more complicated than that. It's true that pharmaceutical companies provide life-saving medicines and it's also true that some drugs simply aren't affordable for individuals that would benefit from them.

On this episode of Health Affairs This Week, Senior Editor Jessica Bylander joins Deputy Editor Rob Lott to discuss the inherent tensions in drug innovation and pricing.

Related Links: