We’ve all heard this phrase over and over again the past year. But what is it, and can it actually be achieved?
Herd immunity occurs when a high percentage or majority of the population achieves immunity to a disease, limiting the spread. It usually occurs in 2 ways: through virus exposure or vaccination. Many of us are hoping that if we reach this stage, life can get back to normal. Scientists ‘guestimate’ that 70 – 90 percent of the population needs to reach immunity to manage the spread effectively. But that ‘guess’ could change. Measles required an immunity threshold of 90 percent; Polio Required 80 percent. (Per World Health Organization). Many of us received the Polio vaccine as children…I wonder how many of us can still find that vaccination scar? Mine was on my upper arm, but my daughter’s is on the back of her knee. Go figure!
News sources recently reported that about 32 percent of Americans had received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. With younger Americans able to receive the vaccine by summer, those immunization numbers should rise. That is good news since the news also reported that new “strains” make those
under age 16 particularly vulnerable. I also heard that Arizona is the most efficient and effective in the country for handling and distributing the vaccine.
So which vaccine should you get? The CDC advises we should get the vaccine that is the soonest available to us. Since we’ve waited this long for the vaccine, don’t gamble by “shopping around.”
I am very sensitive to many commonplace drugs. When I received my vaccine, I was concerned about having a reaction because I’m allergic to Epinephrine- the antidote to resolve life-threatening anaphylaxis. I took my grandson with me, an ER trauma nurse, and luckily only had the usual 24-hours-later minor side effects. I was quickly back to being “bright-eyed & bushy-tailed.
Whether or not you receive the vaccine is a personal choice. Your decision to vaccinate could contribute to reaching herd immunity sooner based on science’s current projection. Many of us are vaccinated and are eager to greet you all again in person, soon!