Thread by @MonicaGandhi9

@DLeonhardt article today NYT illustrates what @drlucymcbride, I & so many others discussing: a fear of normal or even following simple March 8 CDC guidelines that vaccinated people can get together without masks/distancing due to irrational fear.
nytimes.com/2021/04/19/bri…

"Fortunately, [fear] also curable. The vaccines have nearly eliminated death, hospitalization and other serious Covid illness among people who [got] shots. .vaccines have also radically reduced chances that people contract even a mild version of Covid or can pass it on to others"

Even acclaimed experts like @ashishjha realized how "awesome" it was to meet friend for drink unmasked 2 months (!) after his last shot. My advice for society on this as MD who talks to patients about irrational fear all time?
1) Leaders like President Biden? Model behavior like

sitting together unmasked/undistanced when work if all vaccinated as you are photographed a lot
2) Hospital infection control @VivekJainMD: Update guidance so fully vaccinated doctors, nurses, trainees can sit together unmasked/undistanced as we used to for morning report, etc

3) Those not in public eye, try it! Just try getting together with your friend or two for a dinner or drink without masks/distancing. I tell this to patients all the time about keeping security blanket around so keep your mask around but try it! Get your feet wet.
4) Above all,

Keep these numbers in your head (or on piece of paper as you venture out:
Out of 77 million Americans fully vaccinated against COVID: 5,800 infections (0.008%)- 0.005% with symptoms; 0.0005% hospitalizations; 0.0001% deaths (latter handful reported with other health problems)

If public health data-driven, #factsnotfear in our approach, trust will increase! I urged former administration to model mask wearing publicly as quoted; I urge current administration to model non-mask wearing in fully vaccinated groups per CDC guidelines; confidence in vax!.