Review of the Medical Literature

Here are key anchor points to the extensive scientific literature that establishes that wearing surgical masks and respirators (e.g., “N95”) does not reduce the risk of contracting a verified illness:

Jacobs, J. L. et al. (2009) “Use of surgical face masks to reduce the incidence of the common cold among health care workers in Japan: A randomized controlled trial”, American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 37, Issue 5, 417 – 419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19216002

N95-masked health-care workers (HCW) were significantly more likely to experience headaches. Face mask use in HCW was not demonstrated to provide benefit in terms of cold symptoms or getting colds.

Cowling, B. et al. (2010) “Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: A systematic review”, Epidemiology and Infection, 138(4), 449-456. doi:10.1017/S0950268809991658https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/face- masks-to-prevent-transmission-of-influenza-virus-a-systematic- review/64D368496EBDE0AFCC6639CCC9D8BC05

None of the studies reviewed showed a benefit from wearing a mask, in either HCW or community members in households (H). See summary Tables 1 and 2 therein.

bin-Reza et al. (2012) “The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence”, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(4), 257–267.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00307.x

“There were 17 eligible studies. … None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask ⁄ respirator use and protection against influenza infection.”

Smith, J.D. et al. (2016) “Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks in protecting health care workers from acute respiratory infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis”, CMAJ Mar 2016, cmaj.150835; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.150835 https://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/8/567

“We identified 6 clinical studies … In the meta-analysis of the clinical studies, we found no significant difference between N95 respirators and surgical masks in associated risk of (a) laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection, (b) influenza-like illness, or (c) reported work-place absenteeism.”

2

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Offeddu, V. et al. (2017) “Effectiveness of Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 65, Issue 11, 1 December 2017, Pages 1934–1942, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix681 https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/65/11/1934/4068747

“Self-reported assessment of clinical outcomes was prone to bias. Evidence of a protective effect of masks or respirators against verified respiratory infection (VRI) was not statistically significant”; as per Fig. 2c therein:

3

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Radonovich, L.J. et al. (2019) “N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial”, JAMA. 2019; 322(9): 824–833. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.11645https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214

“Among 2862 randomized participants, 2371 completed the study and accounted for 5180 HCW-seasons. … Among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”

Long, Y. et al. (2020) “Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta-analysis”, J Evid Based Med. 2020; 1- 9. https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12381https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jebm.12381

“A total of six RCTs involving 9 171 participants were included. There were no statistically significant differences in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza, laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections, laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection and influenza-like illness using N95 respirators and surgical masks. Meta-analysis indicated a protective effect of N95 respirators against laboratory-confirmed bacterial colonization (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.43-0.78). The

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use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”

Conclusion Regarding that Masks Do Not Work

Conquérir la liberté c’est affronter la vérité sur beaucoup de points, une véritable remise en cause de choses que l’on croyait vraies, mais que l’on découvre fausses.

Il ne faut pas avoir peur de la vérité, il est dit :
Jean 8/32 : vous connaîtrez la vérité, et la vérité vous affranchira.

La peur est un facteur de blocage extraordinaire. Quand on a peur on cherche à se cacher et la meilleure cachette est d’être le plus anonyme possible : « dans le milieu du troupeau », c’est à dire être comme tous les autres, au milieu des autres…

La conquête de la vraie liberté fait souvent perdre les faux amis.
« Les faux amis ressemblent à la fausse monnaie, ils en ont le brillant et le peu de valeur. (Axel Oxenstiern)…

Le prix de la liberté c’est d’avoir le courage d’être différent…. B. Lacroix

 

Maintenir la santé immunitaire face au COVID-19 et aux futurs virus.

– En quoi le vieillissement immunitaire rend-il les personnes âgées si vulnérables au COVID-19 ?

– Comment les processus de vieillissement peuvent influer sur la gravité des virus et d’autres maladies ?

– Comment l’exercice, la nutrition et d’autres facteurs liés au mode de vie peuvent améliorer la santé immunitaire ?

– Quels traitements s’avèrent prometteurs pour renforcer nos défenses immunitaires contre la COVID-19 ?

Si vous voulez utiliser un masque lorsque vous faites vos courses allez-y. Mais rappelez-vous que la protection des virus ce n’est pas vraiment à 100%* Peut-être qu’il protège les autres, mais encore pas à 100%, car les virus sont si minuscules.

Si vous utilisez un masque, assurez-vous de retirer votre masque immédiatement après votre sortie du magasin, afin de pouvoir respirer de l’air frais et une oxygénation appropriée.

Et RAPPELEZ-VOUS que la meilleure façon d’éviter de tomber malade reste les principes élémentaires : lavez-vous les mains, éteignez votre TV,  soyez en bonne santé et OPTIMISEZ VOTRE SYSTÈME IMMUNITAIRE.