According to Rodda, “Herd immunity is the concept that if enough people are protected from infection, either by gaining immunity from having the infection or receiving a vaccine, then the chance of a non immune person contracting the disease is exceedingly low.”
“This is important because there are people in our communities (babies, the elderly, people who have weakened immune systems) that cannot get immunized and they must rely on the rest of us taking precautions to protect them,” she said.
However, Rodda added, it would be a bad idea to simply allow the disease to spread unchecked in an effort to reach herd immunity more quickly.
“COVID-19 can be fatal in any age group,” she explained, “and the cost to human life is appallingly unacceptable.”
A vaccine is the ideal way to achieve herd immunity, according to Rodda.
Sperber agreed with Rodda that a vaccine is the best path forward, adding that widespread use of vaccines is key.
“Underutilization of effective vaccines can prevent the development of herd immunity and result in continued spread of infection,” he said.
