Abstract
Aiming to prevent the spread of contagious diseases has long been a central tenet of public health. In the present time, divisive political responses to mask wearing to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission have competed with sound public health advice for public attention. Here, we draw parallels in terms of individualism versus societal solidarity between the slow and ponderous development of transmission-blocking vaccines for malaria and advocacy for mask wearing to prevent COVID-19.