AdvertisementWhatever the threshold for herd immunity, public health officials face a substantial challenge. But at 22% of the U.S. population, they are important to any effort to achieve herd immunity and return to normal life. AdvertisementThe degree to which the vaccines prevent transmission matters greatly in the equation for calculating herd immunity. In a bad-case scenario, the vaccines do so little to stop transmissions that herd immunity simply can’t be achieved through vaccination alone. They emphasize that in the age of globalization, herd immunity must eventually take into account almost every corner of the earth — a pathogen anywhere remains a threat everywhere.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 26, 2020 11:02 UTC