THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. BEN: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ALREADY WE ARING MASKS INSIDE PUBCLI PLACES, BUT THIS ADVISORY IS STILL A RECOMMENDATI, ONNOT A REQUIREMT.EN ISTH IS NOT A MANDATE. IT IS ONLY A RECOMMENDATION, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT’S A MISTAKE? DR. BOUCHER: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WEARING A MASK WHEN THEY GO OUT AND WHEN THEY WILL BE AROUND FOLKS WHO ARE UNVACCINATED. I DO NOT WANT TO LEOS SIGHT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO. GET VACCINATED IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN AND GET A BOOERST AND IF YOU QUALIFY. JESSICA: WE KNOW THAT THE OMICRON VARIANT IS VYER CONTAGIOUS. AIRBORNE, AND HOW FAR CAN IT TRAVEL? DR. BOUCR:HE GREAT QUESTION. WE THINK ABOUT SIX FEET. THE PARTICLES BEING IN THE AIR ABOUT SIX FEET. THAT IS WHERE THE SIX FOOT DISTANCE COMES FROM. WE KNOW IT CAN LAST AND LINGER FOR A WHILE. IT DEPENDS ON VENTILATION SO VENTILATION IS IMPORTANT. THERE ARE CASES WHERE IT HAS LIEREDNG FOR HOURS. BEN: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ASK YOU SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS. HERE’S ONE FROM CAROL. I RECEIVED A DOUBLE-LUNG TRANSPLANT. HOW PROTECTED AM I AFTERWO T VACCINATIONS AND A BOOSTER SHOT? DR. BOHEUC CAROL, IT GISREAT THAT YOU ARE DOING WELL WITH YOUR TRANSPLANT, BUT YOU ARE ONE OFHE T MOST VULNERABLE TYPES OF PATIENTS THAT WE SEE. HAVING THE THREE DOSES IS GOOD, BUT IN YOUR CASE WE WANT TO PROTECT YOU. FOR YOU IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WEAR A MASK AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE AROUND YOU HAS BEEN VACCINATED AND THAT YOU TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS JUST TO BE SAFE. JESSICA: THIS NEXT ONE IS FROM DENISE. IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD FOR THE BOOSTER IF YOU’VE BEEN INFECTED? IS IT SAFE TO RECEIVE IT IMMEDIATELY AFTER SYMPTOMS HAVE SUBSIDED? DR. BOUCHER: GATRE QUESTION. THIS ADVICE HAS CHANGED DURING THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT ITS I FINE TO GET THAT BOOSTER IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE. THAT IS TWO MONTHS AFRTE J&J OR SIX MONTHS AFTER PFIZEANR D MODERNA. IT IS FINE TO GET YOUR BOOSTER. N: DR. BOUCHER, GOOD TO SEE YOU THANK YOU.

Advertisement

Video: Does Massachusetts need a mask mandate? Boston doctor weighs in

Updated: 6:37 PM EST Dec 21, 2021

While wearing a mask in public places is important, the infectious disease specialist says there is a higher priority when it comes to protection against COVID-19.

BOSTON —

While wearing a mask in public places is important, the infectious disease specialist says there is a higher priority when it comes to protection against COVID-19.

Advertisement