Self-reported mask use among persons with or without SARS CoV-2 vaccination -United States, December 2020-August 2021

Authors

Lydia E. Calamari, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, United States.
Ashley H. Tjaden, The Biostatistics Center, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
Sharon L. Edelstein, The Biostatistics Center, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
William S. Weintraub, MedStar Health Research Institute and Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.
Roberto Santos, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.
Michael Gibbs, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, United States.
Johnathan Ward, Vysnova Partners, Inc, United States.
Michele Santacatterina, The Biostatistics Center, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
Alain G. Bertoni, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.
Lori M. Ward, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.
Sharon Saydah, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Ian D. Plumb, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Michael S. Runyon, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, United States.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Journal

Preventive medicine reports

Volume

28

DOI

10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101857

Keywords

COVID-19; Mask use; Vaccination

Abstract

Wearing a facemask can help to decrease the transmission of COVID-19. We investigated self-reported mask use among subjects aged 18 years and older participating in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership (CRP), a prospective longitudinal COVID-19 surveillance study in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. We included those participants who completed ≥5 daily surveys each month from December 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021. Mask use was defined as self-reported use of a face mask or face covering on every interaction with others outside the household within a distance of less than 6 feet. Participants were considered vaccinated if they reported receiving ≥1 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Participants (n = 17,522) were 91% non-Hispanic White, 68% female, median age 57 years, 26% healthcare workers, with 95% self-reported receiving ≥1 COVID-19 vaccine dose through August 2021; mean daily survey response was 85%. Mask use was higher among vaccinated than unvaccinated participants across the study period, regardless of the month of the first dose. Mask use remained relatively stable from December 2020 through April (range 71-80% unvaccinated; 86-93% vaccinated) and declined in both groups beginning in mid-May 2021 to 34% and 42% respectively in June 2021; mask use increased again since July 2021. Mask use by all was lower during weekends and on Christmas and Easter, regardless of vaccination status. Independent predictors of higher mask use were vaccination, age ≥65 years, female sex, racial or ethnic minority group, and healthcare worker occupation, whereas a history of self-reported prior COVID-19 illness was associated with lower use.

APA Citation

Calamari, Lydia E.; Tjaden, Ashley H.; Edelstein, Sharon L.; Weintraub, William S.; Santos, Roberto; Gibbs, Michael; Ward, Johnathan; Santacatterina, Michele; Bertoni, Alain G.; Ward, Lori M.; Saydah, Sharon; Plumb, Ian D.; and Runyon, Michael S., "Self-reported mask use among persons with or without SARS CoV-2 vaccination -United States, December 2020-August 2021" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1051.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1051

Department

Biostatistics and Bioinformatics