What Herd Immunity Is and Why It Is Crucial to Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic

Although the number of people infected with COVID-19 is steadily and rapidly increasing, we are nearing the end of the pandemic. While a vaccine has been produced, and state governors are implementing its distribution to high-risk populations, case counts are spiking higher than ever, at well over one hundred thousand cases per day. This pattern has many Americans concerned that the pandemic will continue to control our lives for months to come. But there are genuine reasons to believe otherwise. For example, if the country acquires herd immunity, the pandemic may end sooner than many people expect.

Herd immunity, or herd protection, occurs when a large enough amount of a population is vaccinated, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated by preventing the spread of disease. If 80% or more of the people in a community are vaccinated, the spread of a virus decreases significantly. In this scenario, the 20% of people who were not vaccinated are much less likely to become infected because their community is, for the most part, immune. In other words, if the people to your left and right are unable to be infected, the virus can’t reach you.

This process has worked countless times for other viruses. Chickenpox used to be incredibly common in America, but once the majority of the population got vaccinated, the spread slowed dramatically. The same principle holds true with other, less dangerous, viruses like the measles and the mumps, and also more severe diseases, like polio. Herd immunity is a tried and true process that will slow almost any disease as long as an effective vaccine exists; now that there is one for COVID-19, an attempt at this protection should be our first step.

Now that a vaccine has been produced, herd immunity is the most realistic solution to the problem at hand. It is close to impossible to vaccinate the entire country, due to political beliefs, pre-existing conditions, and logistical issues. But as soon as everyone who can receive the vaccine does, the rate of infection will begin to decrease steadily. Herd immunity will give the country a chance to slow the pandemic more quickly and efficiently than many people believe. 

The vaccine is the most important part of achieving herd protection because without it the immunity aspect becomes much more difficult. This means that although it is clear that herd immunity is a viable solution, the conflict regarding this particular vaccine could prove to be a major setback that potentially renders communal protection ineffective. As one example of mistrust, people have been spreading conspiracy theories through social media that the vaccine will plant a microchip in you so the government can track you. Some readers believe these types of falsehoods without question. When these rumors spread throughout communities and convince people to not get the vaccine, achieving herd immunity becomes less likely. If fewer people receive the vaccine, the community is not as protected and the spread of the virus will not decrease significantly.

Another challenge facing the prospect of herd immunity is the current shortage of vaccine doses. There is no telling how long it will take until the pharmaceutical companies are able to produce enough doses to reach the critical threshold. Additionally, the vaccine has to be stored at very cold temperatures that some small vaccination sites can’t achieve. This logistical flaw could prevent people in smaller towns and more rural areas from gaining access to the shot without having to travel to receive it. But while these setbacks could slow the process of herd immunity, it remains the most plausible option for grinding the spread of coronavirus to a halt.

Americans have the opportunity to stop the spread of COVID-19 through widespread application of the vaccine combined with continued social distancing. But if we don’t pursue this route to herd immunity, we’re certain to continue facing the pandemic long after the vaccine has become available to everyone.

By Liza Tewari