Vaccinated Mississippians react to new CDC recommendations to mask up in areas of high transmission

Admissions to hospitals in Mississippi are continuing to rise, ICU beds are reaching capacity, and COVID-19 outbreaks are expanding in nursing homes as  the highly contagious Delta variant spreads across the state. According to the Mississippi Hospital Association, at least 95% of those cases are in unvaccinated residents. 

Tim Moore, president and CEO says that leaves about 5% of vaccinated people who are testing positive.

“But it does look like that  the outcome of those patients, the severity of the illness, and how the virus attacks them is much much less than it is if they do not have a vaccine,” said Moore. 

While vaccinated people play a small role in transmission of the Delta variant and breakthrough infections are minimal, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors to prevent further spread in areas with rising case counts and low vaccination rates - such as Mississippi. 

Joe, who’s not using his real name for fear of retaliation from his employer, says he’s been fully vaccinated since March but contracted COVID-19 earlier this month at work. He believes if he and his coworkers were wearing masks - vaccinated or not- it wouldn't have led to an outbreak. 

“I’m glad that they are rolling back that statement and having people who are fully vaccinated or unvaccinated to wear the masks. Because if I did have my mask on at that meeting, I probably wouldn’t have caught COVID-19,” he said.  

“I got relaxed. Our college lifted the ban and I didn’t have my mask on.” 

He says he wasn’t initially aware that vaccinated people could still become infected. As someone who’s asthmatic, Joe says having been vaccinated allowed him to suffer a mild case and avoid hospitalization.