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IU chief health officer says mask requirement unlikely despite COVID-19 strain

By Kayan Tara

Posted March 23, 2022

The variant was one of the main topics in the regular “Ask Aaron” question-and-answer webinar that provides information related to the pandemic.

(Screenshot from IU)

IU Chief Health Officer Aaron Carroll said Wednesday the university’s strong position with COVID-19 vaccinations makes it unlikely masking will be resumed, even in the face of the new BA.2 variant.

The variant was one of the main topics in the regular “Ask Aaron” question-and-answer webinar that provides information related to the pandemic.

Carroll said IU is in a good place regarding COVID-19 with low positive case counts and all-time low hospitalization rates, even with the rise of the BA.2 variant. The new variant accounts for 30% of all COVID-19 cases nationally. 

“Given our incredibly high levels of vaccination rate and the fact that a fair number of people got Omnicom,” Carroll said. “It seems unlikely that we would need to retrench with respect to masks.” 

Booster shots were another source for questions.

Carroll said cellular immunity and protection appears to be robust after the first booster shot. He said antibody levels tend to drop after a booster, which is why individuals with them might still get infected. The severity of these infections, however, are low.

Carroll said he is not concerned that people may need a fourth round of vaccinations, but currently the first three shots are protecting individuals.  

“Very few vaccines are one and done, very few,” he said. “Often, we booster them, often we have a number of shots until you're through the usual load.

“With some of the childhood vaccines, it can be five or more. With some of them again, it's yearly. Some of them it's every five to 10 years. Having gotten three and thinking about getting a fourth and perhaps more doesn't concern me.” 

Carroll recommended IU community members have all three rounds of COVID-19 vaccinations to stay healthy and protected. 

The webinar was moderated by IU Director of Media Relations Chuck Carney. The "Ask Aaron" webinar series has additional sessions scheduled for April 13 and April 27 at noon. Past sessions can be viewed at broadcast.iu.edu.  

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