Graphic shows time to herd immunity among selected countries.
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HEALTH

Path to coronavirus immunity

By Duncan Mil

February 8, 2021 - While some countries can reach so-called “herd immunity” within months -- with 75-85 per cent of the population vaccinated -- others could take several years, according to data collected by Bloomberg.

Getting vaccines into arms is the priority in the world’s most extensive vaccination campaign ever mounted. Globally, we are now injecting 4.7 million doses of vaccine every day, according to Bloomberg’s Covid-19 vaccine tracker.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that it distributed 59,304,600 doses of both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech two-shot vaccines and administered more than 39 million doses by Saturday morning (February 6).

The U.S. rolling vaccination rate is 1.5 million doses per day. At this rate, it will take an estimated 10 months to cover 75% of the population with a two-dose vaccine.

Israel and the United Kingdom lead the race to achieve 75 per cent herd immunity with two months and six months, respectively.

It will take between two and five years to achieve the 75 per cent target in most European countries. For example, with a seven-day rolling average of 8,250 per day, it will take 2.4 years in Ireland.

According to the Bloomberg data, Canada is worryingly trailing with a daily rolling average of 16,000 doses, giving a 9.6-year slog to hit herd immunity.

In India, the vaccination rate is 290,000 doses per day, on average. At this rate, it will take more than ten years to cover 75% of the population with a two-dose vaccine.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 08/02/2021; STORY: Graphic News
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