> in the US, public health messaging stated the opposite, in order to keep as many masks in supply to healthcare workers despite a major shortage of masks
I'm saying that "experts" here is not one group. The politicians and public figures choosing what information to publicize and disseminate are not the same people as those who worked on developing the vaccines.
There isnstrong scientific consensus around masks and vaccinees! They work 100%, are 99.999999999999999% effective and there are no measurable side effects (bellow 70%)!