Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for continuing your crusade to expose the blatant hypocrisy that is affecting 2-4 year olds and college kids, but only in some places. Most places IN THE REST OF THE WORLD are not doing what some of our cities and colleges are doing in this country.
The thing is, for a lot of us it's been disgusting to witness this entire time. The government should NEVER have been allowed to lock people in their homes and force them to close their businesses. Masking children is the cherry on the cake. Thankfully, I never sent my kids back to school after the first lockdown, because I absolutely refused to abuse my children's emotional health by muzzling them.
Refreshing and honest but worrisome because in this day an age institutions--your UCSF included--may decide to terminate your practice with them. If a few laws go into place here in CA, your license to practice as a doctor could be subject to review of you are not supporting the prevailing medical information. So I worry for this, but love that your bravery is finding outlets among the populace. Thank you Dr. Prasad.
Here in LA County, I see plenty of masked children at the park. There's clearly no mandate, so it's the parents' doing. I guess I should feel sorry for the parents who think they and their children really are at risk of catching covid in the outdoors, separated from other people by twenty, thirty, forty feet or more.
The other day I saw a family double-masked in an essentially empty park.
What's still baffling is why people who choose to wear masks despite the end of mandates go with cloth or surgical ones. If they're really worried about catching covid (even in the outdoors), why wouldn't they upgrade to KF94s or KN95s? I'd say about 50% or more of the adult students who choose to wear masks – no more mandates – at the school I work at still wear cloth or surgical, even when outdoors.
Terrifying images. Speaks volumes of the successful culture of fear that many continue to voluntarily submit to. Mask mandates no linger needed if people are willing to freely choose this. Omg, what has occurred among us?
It's become a sad cultural icon. Sad that so many are that deluded, still. It does illustrate the power of the press to instill such fear and feckless leaders not willing to be honest. Where have the independent Americans gone? Many have found these spaces but too few.
Thank you as always for being spot on! I think I’ve said this before but it’s extremely poignant that you describe yourself as a liberal progressive…and are being so consistently blunt & direct to your colleagues on facts that are very difficult to hide from… and especially to those on your side of the aisle… Because it is from here that all these policies originate!! You know it, we know it…. Why are so many still refusing to admit it? Thank you for continuing to wake people up… lift up the curtain to the crazy hypocrisy… Each and everyone of these posts hopefully wakes another healthcare professional up… to speak up… Engage more… not repeat the same mistakes come next fall when cases rise again… demand credible RCT research on masking kids, etc! Keep it up! Keep sharing this stuff folks!
What’s more frightening: the sight of unvaccinated teenagers partying on a beach in Florida or masked 4-year-olds in a playground in San Francisco? I know which one terrifies the crap out of me
What's sad is the parents are the one making their kids wear masks.
On the other hand, I see a lot of middle- and high-school students walking to and from school while wearing masks ... Clearly they're choosing to do so. On top of that, mask mandates at school have dropped everywhere in my part of LA County.
But high school /middle school kids have multiple reasons to do so - helpful to 1) hide acne, 2) helps kids hide who prefer to feel more invisible, and then of course, 3) sometimes it's " to make my friends feel safe" (even if the friends are healthy teens who have been vaxxed (and often boosted) but have zero or near zero risk of a severe breakthrough. My 14 yr old initially said she might keep wearing for point 3, but I made her read multiple studies on risks to kids, risks to healthy adults post vax, weak data on cloth masks with enough evidence to support one way N95 masking for anyone who wants to decrease their risk, and the Urgency of Normal toolkit, and she decided to unmask.
Oh, I definitely understand your points. Thank you for pointing out the other reasons. From your post I can see we're on the same page on this issue. I'm glad you encouraged your child to read up on the "actual" literature and not just blindly follow what teachers or public health "experts" are saying. (I still see posters and billboards promoting the idea that an individual getting the vaccine protects their family.)
I've seen interviews of kids asking why they continue to wear masks. Much of it comes down to non-covid reasons (e.g., not wanting to stand out; feeling "naked" without it; etc.). The fact remains that they're wearing them for unscientific reasons. That's my basic point. Masks are supposed to be used to reduce or prevent transmission: that's all.
I do understand why people continue to wear masks; I just don't think it's logical, but as long as it's not influencing policy (i.e., many people "feel" unsafe without masks, so politicians listen and reinstitute mask mandates), I suppose I just need to figure out why I get so annoyed.
As another example of "safety measures being unscientific", people will carry lucky charms (e.g., rabbit's foot) in their pockets to ward off danger. They may believe it helps them, but we wouldn't say that's a logical choice.
100%. Just this weekend my 11 yr old was playing outside with his friend. I caught them riding down our hill (bumpy Intown sidewalks!!!) on scooters without helmets. But his friend was wearing a mask! (Of course I made them put helmets on and remind for the 1,000x that they must wear helmets riding down the hill :). Marty makary mentioned in one his interviews with vinay and zdoggmd the study in California where a much higher proportion of bikers wore masks then helmets! The inability to calculate risks and desire for zero covid risk when life is full of risks is definitely part of what infuriates me.
For sure, it’s hilarious to see someone here in Hawaii speeding through traffic on a motorcycle with no helmet but a cloth mask! Wish I could’ve captured it on video but I was laughing too hard.
I still get frustrated with people who talk to me about mask-wearing and vaccines but continue to smoke or do other things that put their health at risk (e.g., being obese, not exercising or eating fast/junk food, etc.).
My hunch is that it's easier to just get a shot and wear a mask to make you "feel" like you're doing something for your health rather than change life-long habits that would probably have a greater net benefit.
Speak truth to power. People have lost thier ability to have empathy. Please keep speaking to the reality of the situation, even if you fee like you are repeating yourself. Eventually it will take hold and people will start to hear you! Your voice is soooo important.
It’s helpful to know I’m not on an island in my frustration at my 4yo (who has had omicron) continuing to be forced to mask at school (the only place in our county that is mandating masks) because a “vaccine” is not available for his age group! This child has never experienced school without a mask! What is wrong with our public health officials that this is the policy that they will dig their heels in on.
And meanwhile in Canada the rules for travel are lifting slightly. But! If a child is 5-12 and unvaxxed now THEY will have to test upon re-entry to Canada--which costs hundred of dollars. And I THINK they even have to quarantine still. Even if their parents are vaxxed. If their parents aren’t, well those dirty parents still are so contaminated as to making it so their precious 5-12 year olds have to test and quarantine, too. Like I said elsewhere: hmmmmm, it’s almost as if the children are being coerced to vaccinate?!!!!!! Makes me so angry. I just want my American parents to meet their new Canadian grandchild.
So after wracking my brain, trying to come up with some reason, any reason, why anyone would be pushing masks in kids, here’s what I came up with. This is a last ditch, visible demonstration that all those school closures really were necessary. See, “we can’t just take the masks off like they’re not in danger-we opened the schools, it was so dangerous and still is…….but we’re trying.” Because if the school closures were unnecessary and the kids were never in danger, how will they explain all the damage to mental health and education they’ve caused? This is a CYA move. I think. Any other ideas? I’d love to hear them.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for continuing your crusade to expose the blatant hypocrisy that is affecting 2-4 year olds and college kids, but only in some places. Most places IN THE REST OF THE WORLD are not doing what some of our cities and colleges are doing in this country.
except canada. mandates galore and no plane or train allowed if unvaxd. But what NY is doing to toddlers is another kind of evil altogether.
When 80-year-old Nancy Pelosi was maskless in a hair salon, I realized this virus was not something to fear.
The thing is, for a lot of us it's been disgusting to witness this entire time. The government should NEVER have been allowed to lock people in their homes and force them to close their businesses. Masking children is the cherry on the cake. Thankfully, I never sent my kids back to school after the first lockdown, because I absolutely refused to abuse my children's emotional health by muzzling them.
Refreshing and honest but worrisome because in this day an age institutions--your UCSF included--may decide to terminate your practice with them. If a few laws go into place here in CA, your license to practice as a doctor could be subject to review of you are not supporting the prevailing medical information. So I worry for this, but love that your bravery is finding outlets among the populace. Thank you Dr. Prasad.
He will be just as successful if he moves to FL, etc to practice, teach, etc! 👍
I'm ready for people to start judging it poorly - right now. Stop the masks on public transport too!
Here in LA County, I see plenty of masked children at the park. There's clearly no mandate, so it's the parents' doing. I guess I should feel sorry for the parents who think they and their children really are at risk of catching covid in the outdoors, separated from other people by twenty, thirty, forty feet or more.
The other day I saw a family double-masked in an essentially empty park.
What's still baffling is why people who choose to wear masks despite the end of mandates go with cloth or surgical ones. If they're really worried about catching covid (even in the outdoors), why wouldn't they upgrade to KF94s or KN95s? I'd say about 50% or more of the adult students who choose to wear masks – no more mandates – at the school I work at still wear cloth or surgical, even when outdoors.
Terrifying images. Speaks volumes of the successful culture of fear that many continue to voluntarily submit to. Mask mandates no linger needed if people are willing to freely choose this. Omg, what has occurred among us?
It's become a sad cultural icon. Sad that so many are that deluded, still. It does illustrate the power of the press to instill such fear and feckless leaders not willing to be honest. Where have the independent Americans gone? Many have found these spaces but too few.
Maybe I now can believe we have lost out mojo.
Thank you for continuing to report things honestly and clearly.
Thank you as always for being spot on! I think I’ve said this before but it’s extremely poignant that you describe yourself as a liberal progressive…and are being so consistently blunt & direct to your colleagues on facts that are very difficult to hide from… and especially to those on your side of the aisle… Because it is from here that all these policies originate!! You know it, we know it…. Why are so many still refusing to admit it? Thank you for continuing to wake people up… lift up the curtain to the crazy hypocrisy… Each and everyone of these posts hopefully wakes another healthcare professional up… to speak up… Engage more… not repeat the same mistakes come next fall when cases rise again… demand credible RCT research on masking kids, etc! Keep it up! Keep sharing this stuff folks!
PREACH IT
What’s more frightening: the sight of unvaccinated teenagers partying on a beach in Florida or masked 4-year-olds in a playground in San Francisco? I know which one terrifies the crap out of me
What's sad is the parents are the one making their kids wear masks.
On the other hand, I see a lot of middle- and high-school students walking to and from school while wearing masks ... Clearly they're choosing to do so. On top of that, mask mandates at school have dropped everywhere in my part of LA County.
But high school /middle school kids have multiple reasons to do so - helpful to 1) hide acne, 2) helps kids hide who prefer to feel more invisible, and then of course, 3) sometimes it's " to make my friends feel safe" (even if the friends are healthy teens who have been vaxxed (and often boosted) but have zero or near zero risk of a severe breakthrough. My 14 yr old initially said she might keep wearing for point 3, but I made her read multiple studies on risks to kids, risks to healthy adults post vax, weak data on cloth masks with enough evidence to support one way N95 masking for anyone who wants to decrease their risk, and the Urgency of Normal toolkit, and she decided to unmask.
Oh, I definitely understand your points. Thank you for pointing out the other reasons. From your post I can see we're on the same page on this issue. I'm glad you encouraged your child to read up on the "actual" literature and not just blindly follow what teachers or public health "experts" are saying. (I still see posters and billboards promoting the idea that an individual getting the vaccine protects their family.)
I've seen interviews of kids asking why they continue to wear masks. Much of it comes down to non-covid reasons (e.g., not wanting to stand out; feeling "naked" without it; etc.). The fact remains that they're wearing them for unscientific reasons. That's my basic point. Masks are supposed to be used to reduce or prevent transmission: that's all.
I do understand why people continue to wear masks; I just don't think it's logical, but as long as it's not influencing policy (i.e., many people "feel" unsafe without masks, so politicians listen and reinstitute mask mandates), I suppose I just need to figure out why I get so annoyed.
As another example of "safety measures being unscientific", people will carry lucky charms (e.g., rabbit's foot) in their pockets to ward off danger. They may believe it helps them, but we wouldn't say that's a logical choice.
100%. Just this weekend my 11 yr old was playing outside with his friend. I caught them riding down our hill (bumpy Intown sidewalks!!!) on scooters without helmets. But his friend was wearing a mask! (Of course I made them put helmets on and remind for the 1,000x that they must wear helmets riding down the hill :). Marty makary mentioned in one his interviews with vinay and zdoggmd the study in California where a much higher proportion of bikers wore masks then helmets! The inability to calculate risks and desire for zero covid risk when life is full of risks is definitely part of what infuriates me.
For sure, it’s hilarious to see someone here in Hawaii speeding through traffic on a motorcycle with no helmet but a cloth mask! Wish I could’ve captured it on video but I was laughing too hard.
Good example!
I still get frustrated with people who talk to me about mask-wearing and vaccines but continue to smoke or do other things that put their health at risk (e.g., being obese, not exercising or eating fast/junk food, etc.).
My hunch is that it's easier to just get a shot and wear a mask to make you "feel" like you're doing something for your health rather than change life-long habits that would probably have a greater net benefit.
Speak truth to power. People have lost thier ability to have empathy. Please keep speaking to the reality of the situation, even if you fee like you are repeating yourself. Eventually it will take hold and people will start to hear you! Your voice is soooo important.
I pray that you are 35+ years old. You know... because that's the age requirement to become President! What a breath of fresh air, you are!
It’s helpful to know I’m not on an island in my frustration at my 4yo (who has had omicron) continuing to be forced to mask at school (the only place in our county that is mandating masks) because a “vaccine” is not available for his age group! This child has never experienced school without a mask! What is wrong with our public health officials that this is the policy that they will dig their heels in on.
And meanwhile in Canada the rules for travel are lifting slightly. But! If a child is 5-12 and unvaxxed now THEY will have to test upon re-entry to Canada--which costs hundred of dollars. And I THINK they even have to quarantine still. Even if their parents are vaxxed. If their parents aren’t, well those dirty parents still are so contaminated as to making it so their precious 5-12 year olds have to test and quarantine, too. Like I said elsewhere: hmmmmm, it’s almost as if the children are being coerced to vaccinate?!!!!!! Makes me so angry. I just want my American parents to meet their new Canadian grandchild.
Feel your pain. 'Tis disheartening. Adams caved again. He's not the man they thought he was.
So after wracking my brain, trying to come up with some reason, any reason, why anyone would be pushing masks in kids, here’s what I came up with. This is a last ditch, visible demonstration that all those school closures really were necessary. See, “we can’t just take the masks off like they’re not in danger-we opened the schools, it was so dangerous and still is…….but we’re trying.” Because if the school closures were unnecessary and the kids were never in danger, how will they explain all the damage to mental health and education they’ve caused? This is a CYA move. I think. Any other ideas? I’d love to hear them.