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The practice of wearing a mask to protect yourself and others is important even after you receive a coronavirus vaccine.
Seeing people wearing masks in everyday life is now the norm throughout much of the country — something that was uncommon in the United States until the coronavirus pandemic began in March.
Over the course of 2020, we’ve learned that wearing a mask protects yourself and others from the coronavirus, underscoring the importance of wearing a mask while in public or close settings.
Mask-wearing, hand-washing and social distancing remain key to curbing the spread of the virus, but much has changed in the world of COVID-19 prevention. Notably, there is now at least one approved vaccine in several countries, including the U.S., the United Kingdom and Canada. But while a vaccine is a profound scientific development that provides much-needed safety, it is not an immediate cure-all.