Health experts discuss herd immunity as COVID-19 vaccinations begin

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

During the Coronavirus pandemic, health experts have talked about reaching herd immunity.

The definition of Herd Immunity according to May Clinic:

'Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.'

Mayo Clinic

Dr. Christelle Ilboudo said vaccinations can play a big role in reaching herd immunity.

"Looking back through history there hasn't been a single pandemic that we got over without a vaccine," she said. "If you think back on Polio, if you think back on Smallpox, that all of those diseases eventually required vaccination."

Ilboudo said the risk of people dying from disease or even the complications people may have after surviving a disease like coronavirus is too great compared to getting the vaccine.

She said health experts do not yet exactly how much of the population would need to get vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity.

Ilboudo said she has heard 70 - 75% of the population will need to be vaccinated for herd immunity to be reached.

"Now the question is, how long does that last, and we don't enough yet. The vaccine, again, is pretty new," she said.

She said doctors have followed those who have participated in studies for about six months.

Director of Health and Human Services Dr. Randall Williams said 75% of the population will need to be vaccinated before herd immunity is reached.

Williams said experts think around 10% of Missourians have been exposed to the virus.

"We think, hope, and again this is all based on, you know, kind of probabilities, that if we could get people to take the vaccine, Toni Fauci, Dr. Slaoui, others think that we could get there by June," Williams said.

Currently, only healthcare workers and residents and employees in long-term care facilities are receiving the vaccine.

Health experts are still telling people to wear masks and wash their hands regularly to prevent the spread of COVID-19, even if they are vaccinated.

Ilboudo said as vaccinations become available to everyone, local hospitals will work with other community partners to make sure it is available to everyone.

"I think it's going to be a great collaboration between our pharmacies, between our health department and between our health systems that are able to vaccinate," she said.

MU Healthcare is planning to do something like they did with flu vaccine campaign with mass vaccination.

She said the goal is to make getting the vaccine as easy as possible for people.

Scott Clardy with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department said in a statement the department is working on a major plan to work with local health partners and the city to get a majority of people in Boone County and Columbia vaccinated.