Monica Gandhi and George Rutherford, in their paper -Facial Masking for Covid-19 — Potential for “Variolation” as We Await a Vaccine - published in the New England Journal, reflects how a conscious action of wearing a mask is the first step towards building immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
Before the precautionary drugs and curing vaccine, variolation, the primordial practice of injecting or snorting dried pus/ infected cells was the way to build global immunity.
The small dose of a virus (inoculum) is enough to jolt the immune cells to recognize and act on it. The recruited cells and the entire warpath is memorized by our immune system to prevent any future attack of the same virus.
The key to victory lies in “how much of the virus does the body get exposed to?"
A higher dose of virus inoculum scrambles the immune system, overrides the defenses, and lead to a severe infection. Wearing a mask will not prevent the infection totally but works as a soft cushion to prevent a knock-out. The protective filters limit the viral load that enters our body, providing our immune system to work over it, resulting in asymptomatic or less severe infection.
Extra doses
How to wear a mask to offer maximum protection?
Always hold the loop or elastic code to wear and remove the mask
Make it a habit to cleanse your hands before and after removing the mask
Tighten the loops and nose-bridge on the mask so that the filter area snugs tightly (yet comfortably) around the nose and mouth area
Wash your cotton/fabric mask daily in hot water after soaking in detergent for 2-3 min
Do not share your mask.
Click on the following to see some interesting videos on variolation and how to spot a good mask and make a better-fit mask
Variolation: Vaccination's Deadly Predecessor Dr. Joe Schwarcz: COVID-19 lessons from the history of variolation and vaccination
Question dose
Will mask be the talisman to protect one from infection?
How to introduce universal face masking measures – as an act of deed than an act of pressure?
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