A hematologist-oncologist and associate professor of medicine who has analyzed the ongoing “studies” on the pros and cons of mandated masks for children says there are no studies showing that masks benefit kids — or anyone else.
In a carefully written, detailed synopsis of his research, Dr. Vinay Prasad highlights that there really are no “large, empirical studies on benefits versus risks” on masking children. He calls attention to a study published in the July issue of the prestigious JAMA Pediatrics showing that CO2 levels in mask-wearing children were dangerously high inside the masks.
Like other studies involving COVID-19 research, opponents quickly called for the article to be retracted. But while that topic is debated, Prasad asks the more pressing question that no one seems to agree on: “Should kids be required to wear a mask and, if so, when?”
Prasad says the truth is that there are both benefits and risks to forcing kids to wear masks, but the bottom line is no one really knows whether benefits outweigh the risks.
“No one has any clue,” Prasad concludes. “During the last year and half, the scientific community has failed to answer these questions. Failed entirely. We have no idea if masks work for 2-year-olds and above, 5 and above, 12 and above. No idea if they only work for some period of time. No idea if this is linked to community rates. No idea if the concerns over language loss offset the gains in reduced viral transmission, and if so, for what ages.”
SOURCE: MedPage Today July 7, 2021