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  • TV Highlights This Week

News Articles: Herd immunity

People line up for COVID-19 vaccinations last month in Hagerstown, Md. Each person vaccinated helps end the pandemic, epidemiologists say, and helps lower the rate of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Tagged as: 

  • Health

It's Time For America's Fixation On Herd Immunity To End, Scientists Say

Researchers say the herd immunity threshold isn't the right finish line to end the pandemic. Instead, the public should just focus on getting as many people vaccinated as possible.

May 18, 2021
|
By:
  • Geoff Brumfiel
A health worker vaccinates a Buddhist monk sitting in front of a portrait of Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at a secondary school in Bhutan on March 27, the first day of the country's vaccination campaign. Less than two weeks later, health officials said 93% of eligible adults had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Tagged as: 

  • Asia

The Country That Vaccinated 93% Of Adults In Under 2 Weeks

Just 12 days after Bhutan launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on March 27, health officials said 93% of eligible adults had received one dose of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.

April 12, 2021
|
By:
  • Rachel Treisman
Nearly a third of adults in the U.S. have gotten at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine so far, but researchers warn that vaccine refusal may keep the country from reaching herd immunity.

Tagged as: 

  • Health

Vaccine Refusal May Put Herd Immunity At Risk, Researchers Warn

One in four Americans say they won't get a coronavirus vaccine. Researchers say it could keep the nation from reaching a critical tipping point.

April 07, 2021
|
By:
  • Geoff Brumfiel

Tagged as: 

  • Health

How Herd Immunity Works — And What Stands In Its Way

Scientists say the pandemic will only end in the U.S. when we achieve what's called herd immunity. Play with our simulations to see how immunity can stop an outbreak in its tracks.

February 19, 2021
|
By:
  • Thomas Wilburn and
  • Richard Harris
People line up for drive-through COVID-19 vaccination at Coors Field baseball stadium in Denver on Saturday.

Tagged as: 

  • Health

A Rocky Road On The Way To Herd Immunity For COVID-19

At least 70% of people will need to be immune from the coronavirus before COVID-19 can recede through a process known as herd immunity. Vaccines can play a role. But reaching the goal won't be easy.

February 03, 2021
|
By:
  • Richard Harris
Dr. Joseph Varon prepares to enter the COVID-19 unit at Houston's United Memorial Medical Center in May. With him are nurses Tanna Ingraham (left) and Jerusha Harshman (right).

Tagged as: 

  • Health

At Houston Hospital, Head Of COVID-19 Unit Sees Some Staff Wary Of A Vaccine

Dr. Joseph Varon of Houston's United Memorial Medical Center senses distrust for a vaccine among some hospital staff. "They all think it's meant to harm specific sectors of the population," he says.

December 16, 2020
|
By:
  • Steve Inskeep and
  • Heidi Glenn
Dr. Anthony Fauci reiterated his plans to publicly take the vaccine when it becomes available to him.

Tagged as: 

  • Health

Fauci Predicts U.S. Could See Signs Of Herd Immunity By Late March Or Early April

Dr. Fauci said once the vaccine becomes widely available, if by "April, May, June, July, we get as many people vaccinated as possible, we could really turn this thing around" by the end of 2021.

December 15, 2020
|
By:
  • Brakkton Booker

Tagged as: 

  • Health

A COVID-19 Vaccine May Be Only 50% Effective. Is That Good Enough?

Scientists are racing to develop a vaccine that proves "safe and effective." It may not prevent infection in everyone who gets it, but it still could eventually stop the pandemic. Here's how.

September 14, 2020
|
By:
  • Allison Aubrey
Dr. Scott Atlas is President Trump's new coronavirus adviser. His ideas are sometimes at odds with those of public health professionals.

Tagged as: 

  • Science

President Trump's New COVID-19 Adviser Is Making Public Health Experts Nervous

Dr. Scott Atlas is a radiologist from Stanford with some unorthodox ideas about managing the pandemic. The White House says his thinking is just what's needed, but scientists aren't so sure.

September 04, 2020
|
By:
  • Geoff Brumfiel and
  • Tamara Keith
A nurse holds a COVID-19 vaccine candidate produced by Chinese company Sinovac Biotech at the São Lucas Hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Aug. 8.

Tagged as: 

  • Health

COVID-19 May Never Go Away — With Or Without A Vaccine

The virus might eventually behave more like the common cold, according to Vineet Menachery, a coronavirus researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

August 11, 2020
|
By:
  • Lulu Garcia-Navarro and
  • Christianna Silva
Public health officials advise social distancing strategies and masks, in part because the latest evidence suggests that catching the coronavirus, even if you're young, is risky business. A significant portion of COVID-19 survivors suffer fatigue, blood clots, fevers and other symptoms for weeks and months after clearing the infection.

Tagged as: 

  • Health

Without A Vaccine, Researchers Say, Herd Immunity May Never Be Achieved

A growing number of researchers think until there's an effective vaccine, the coronavirus will simply persist in the population, causing illness indefinitely. Better to squelch the spread instead.

July 24, 2020
|
By:
  • Geoff Brumfiel
A couple hugs and laughs as they have lunch in a restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden. This photo, taken Apr. 4, 2020, illustrates Sweden's relatively relaxed response to coronavirus, in contrast with the lockdown approach taken by many other countries.

Tagged as: 

  • News

The Merits, Risks And Politics of Sweden's Herd Immunity Strategy

Compared to the lockdowns and shuttered businesses in countries across the world, Sweden is an outlier. Swedish officials have advised citizens to work...

May 08, 2020
|
By:
  • Emilia Brock and
  • Virginia Prescott

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