One
potential issue for the United States, even when there is a coronavirus
vaccine: If too few people get it, the country is not likely to achieve herd
immunity.
That’s a concern
recently voiced by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Fauci said that "there is a general anti-science, anti-authority, anti-vaccine feeling among some people in this country -- an alarmingly large percentage of people, relatively speaking,” adding, “we have a lot of work to do” to educate people about the truth of vaccines.
Herd immunity happens when a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease, either through prior illness or vaccination, so that spread from person to person is unlikely.
A CNN poll last month found one-third of Americans said they would not try to get vaccinated against Covid-19, even if the vaccine is widely available and low cost.
Fauci said he believes it is most likely we will get a vaccine that is 70% to 75% effective. When CNN asked Fauci whether a vaccine with 70% to 75% efficacy taken by only two-thirds of the population would provide herd immunity to the coronavirus, he answered, "No -- unlikely."
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