[vadfa]

Masks work. I don't dispute that. I just don't want to wear one for the rest of my life. I don't want my government telling me what to wear.

I got vaccinated months ago because I thought that would be the end of masks. That was the entire point of vaccinating: not needing a mask because the virus could do nothing to you. The vaccination rate in my country is almost 80% and we still have a mask mandate. I will not even consider taking a booster until they do away with the mask.

[hn_throwaway_99]

While I agree with your general sentiment, saying "I will not even consider taking a booster until they do away with the mask" seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Wouldn't you want to get a booster just to lower your risk of getting a potentially severe illness?

[vadfa]

That is not necessary because I'm forced to wear a mask. If we are forced to wear masks, it's because masks work. Right?

On the other hand, I fell ill for an entire day after taking the second dose, and I refuse to go through that again.

[dsauerbrun]

I don't think it's binary like that(I'm willing to be proven wrong).

Vaccines are effective at preventing infection and particularly severe infections.

Masks are only effective at preventing you spreading your own infection. If you wear an n95 it will prevent you from getting infected but there is user error involved in tightness/compliance/etc....

My understanding has been that vaccines are more effective at preventing infection than masks so if you're picking between the two for your own safety, it would seem that the vaccine is the better choice for yourself.

I will agree with you that the side effects from the vaccine are certainly a counter-argument for getting a booster every 6 months(or whenever a variant comes out that needs a different vaccine). I got mine last month and was asking myself, "I am pretty fit, in my 30's, I work from home, and my leisure activities are all outdoors(running/hiking/climbing)... Am I just going to get knocked out for 1-2 days every 6 months when my perceived risk level of catching covid is so low?"

My hope is that we're spending time working on better vaccines with fewer side-effects. If the side-effects are like the flu shot i'll gladly get a booster whenever needed without thinking twice.

[ldehaan]

Aww look, a coward.