Herd immunity and COVID-19: What you need to know

Understand what's known about herd immunity and what it means for COVID-19.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Curious about progress toward herd immunity against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Understand how herd immunity works, its role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges involved.

Why is herd immunity important?

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

Often, a percentage of the population must be capable of getting a disease in order for it to spread. This is called a threshold proportion. If the proportion of the population that is immune to the disease is greater than this threshold, the spread of the disease will decline. This is known as the herd immunity threshold.

What percentage of a community needs to be immune in order to achieve herd immunity? It varies from disease to disease. The more contagious a disease is, the greater the proportion of the population that needs to be immune to the disease to stop its spread. For example, the measles is a highly contagious illness. It's estimated that 94% of the population must be immune to interrupt the chain of transmission.

How is herd immunity achieved?

Herd immunity can be reached when enough people in the population have recovered from a disease and have developed protective antibodies against future infection. However, experts now believe it'll likely be difficult to achieve herd immunity for COVID-19.

Getting COVID-19 offers some natural protection or immunity from reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19. It's estimated that getting COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination both result in a low risk of another infection with a similar variant for at least six months.

But because reinfection is possible and COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications, it's recommended that people who have already had COVID-19 get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Natural infection

There are some major problems with relying on community infection to create herd immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19:

  • Reinfection. It's estimated that getting COVID-19 results in a low risk of another infection with a similar variant for at least six months. However, even if you have antibodies, you could get COVID-19 again. Because reinfection can cause severe medical complications, it's recommended that people who have already had COVID-19 get a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Health impact. Infection with the COVID-19 virus could lead to serious complications and millions of deaths, especially among older people and those who have existing health conditions. The health care system could quickly become overwhelmed.

Vaccines

Herd immunity also can be reached when enough people have been vaccinated against a disease and have developed protective antibodies against future infection. Unlike the natural infection method, vaccines create immunity without causing illness or resulting complications. Using the concept of herd immunity, vaccines have successfully controlled contagious diseases such as smallpox, polio, diphtheria, rubella and many others.

The COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are:

  • 2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, available for people age 6 months and older.
  • 2023-2024 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, available for people age 6 months and older.
  • 2023-2024 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, available for people age 12 years and older.

Herd immunity makes it possible to protect the population from a disease, including those who can't be vaccinated, such as newborns or those who have compromised immune systems.

But reaching herd immunity through vaccination against COVID-19 will likely be difficult for many reasons. For example:

  • Vaccine hesitancy. Some people object to getting a COVID-19 vaccine because of religious objections, fears about the possible risks or skepticism about the benefits. If the proportion of vaccinated people in a community is below the herd immunity threshold, a contagious disease could continue to spread.
  • Protection questions. Research suggests that COVID-19 vaccination results in a low risk of infection with the COVID-19 virus for at least six months. However, although COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness from current and possibly future variants, people who are vaccinated and up to date on their vaccines may still get breakthrough infections and spread the virus to others.
  • Uneven vaccine access. The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has greatly varied among and within countries. If one community achieves a high COVID-19 vaccination rate and surrounding areas don't, outbreaks can occur if the populations mix.

What's the outlook for achieving herd immunity in the U.S.?

Given the challenges, it's unclear if herd immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 will be reached. However, the number of fully vaccinated adults continues to rise. In addition, more than 80 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed infections with the COVID-19 virus — though, again, it's not clear how long immunity lasts after infection.

Even if it isn't currently possible to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the COVID-19 vaccine can lower the risk of death or serious illness caused by COVID-19. It lowers your risk and lowers the risk that you may spread it to people around you.

How can you slow the transmission of COVID-19?

There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection. When possible, get a COVID-19 vaccine. You are considered up to date with your vaccines if you have gotten all recommended COVID-19 vaccine shots when you become eligible.

After getting vaccinated, you can more safely return to doing activities that you might not have been able to do because of high numbers of people with COVID-19 in your area. However, if you are in an area with a high number of people with COVID-19 in the hospital, the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public.

The CDC recommends following these precautions:

  • Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms
  • Keep distance between yourself and others when you're in indoor public spaces if you're not fully vaccinated. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness. Keep in mind some people may have COVID-19 and spread it to others, even if they don't have symptoms or don't know they have COVID-19.
  • Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air flow (ventilation).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces if you're in an area with a high number of people with COVID-19 in the hospital. The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly, fits well and is comfortable.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue. Wash your hands right away.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding and other household items if you're sick.
  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, electronics and counters, regularly.
  • Stay home from work, school and public areas and stay home in isolation if you're sick, unless you're going to get medical care. Avoid taking public transportation, taxis and ride-hailing services if you're sick.

If you have a chronic medical condition and may have a higher risk of serious illness, check with your health care professional about other ways to protect yourself.

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Nov. 04, 2023 See more In-depth

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