Last week’s announcement by the CDC has put another ringer into the mess that COVID has created for the US, World and massage profession. Their new guidelines say:
If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find a vaccine.
So now we have everyone scrambling to catch up and make changes but is it too soon? I won’t be making any changes to my mask wearing except maybe for walking down the empty streets of Downtown Seattle where my office is located.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t
So now if you are not wearing a mask, everyone can assume you are vaccinated except for the people who are anti-vaxers will be taking off their masks or continuing to not wear them because it will be assumed that they are vaccinated. It gives them a way out of any questions about their choices. If you choose to still wear a mask, people will assume you are not vaccinated – when in fact you may be.
Is it all a ploy to get people to get their vaccines or does it mean the vaccines are really that good and working that well? I think it is both, but don’t yet trust it. We just have come too far to set this back…again.
Telling your clients or potential clients
If your client asks if you are vaccinated and you are not, your answer alone will be telling. If you are vaccinated why would you not tell people? In a community where vaccines are frowned on, it could change the way people view you and your business. If you live in an area where vaccines are widely accepted, you will need to be vaccinated or accept the possible consequences that people will not visit your business. They could even start a rumor that you are an anti-vaxer and ruin your business. (Yes I saw a massage therapist say that in a FB group.)
Many massage therapists are saying things like :
It is none of anyone’s business. Does that mean they didn’t get vaccinated? It could actually mean anything but people will assume you are not.
It is a HIPAA violation. Is it? If you choose to share your information it is not a violation of HIPAA. It isn’t a violation of HIPAA no matter what. HIPAA is an agreement between people and their healthcare providers and insurance plans. Can your employer make you share that information? Not sure of the legalities of it all, but yes if you want to stay employed.
Masks Required
If you are a healthcare provider, masks are still required in healthcare settings. Think about it. You are still in a closed room and in direct contact with people, breathing in their face when working on their necks in the supine position.
If you are not getting the vaccine, they are definitely required. If you already have set them aside, then it it what it is. This thing will just take longer to tame.
Let’s get this thing over already. If you still don’t want to get the vaccine, wear the masks and tell people the truth. It will come back to bite you later when you don’t tell the truth.
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