CDC chief says face masks may provide better protection against COVID-19 than vaccine

director of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr Robert Redfield has said on September 16 that wearing a facemask amid COVID-19 pandemic is better protection against deadly disease than a potential vaccine and called m "best defence". According to reports, while addressing lawmakers at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, CDC director elaborated that he might go as far as saying face coverings are “more guaranteed to protect” himself against vel coronavirus infection as compared to when he will be injected with COVID-19 vaccine. 

While explaining his stance, Redfield said that immugenicity might be 70 per cent and if for instance, he does t get an immune response, potential COVID-19 vaccine would fail to protect him. However, on contrary, Redfield added that “mask will” safeguard people and ted that US citizens have t yet fully embraced use of facemasks to a level that would effectively control vel coronavirus outbreak. US CDC director also said that he does t want to keep asking people in group of 18 and 25, where disease is spreading, to take responsibility. 

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Trump contradicts CDC Chief 

While CDC Chief reiterated importance of facemasks in meeting, US President Donald Trump contradicted Redfield on vaccine roll-out date and said latter may have been "confused" while testifying to a congressional committee. In same testimony, CDC director had said that COVID-19 vaccine for general public likely would t be available until probably next summer. 

However, Trump, while answering reporters about remark, said that Redfield made a mistake because he called director after testimony, adding that Redfield appeared to have been confused by question. 

", I think he made a mistake when he said that. It’s just incorrect information. And I called him, and he didn’t tell me that, and I think he got mess may be confused. Maybe it was stated incorrectly. , we’re ready to go immediately as vaccine is anunced, and it could be anunced in October. It could be anunced a little bit after October. But once we go, we’re ready," Trump told reporters outside White House. 

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