We Eradicated Polio from the U.S. with Vaccines. Can We Do the Same with COVID-19?

• Experts believe it will take vaccinating 70 to 90 percent of Americans before we reach herd immunity.
• Currently nearly 1 in 4 people are against getting any of the vaccines, according to a recent NPR/Marist poll.
• Experts point out that the push for COVID-19 vaccines face challenges that immunization campaigns have not.

As of May 3, more than 147 million Americans have received at least one dose of the available COVID-19 vaccines.

That’s more than 44 percent of the population.

But experts estimate we won’t hit herd immunity — when enough people are vaccinated to essentially stop the transmission of the virus — until 70 to 90 percent of people are vaccinated.

Currently, nearly 1 in 4 people are against getting any of the vaccines, according to a recent NPR/Marist poll.

The poll found that 25 percent of respondents said they would refuse a coronavirus vaccine if offered it outright. Five percent are still “undecided.”

While there will be hurdles to getting enough people vaccinated to reach herd immunity, we can look at past vaccination campaigns to better understand the challenges.

In fact, from birth to 15 months old, most children are given vaccines for a variety of illnesses, including everything from hepatitis B and rotavirus to diphtheria, poliovirus, measles, mumps, rubella, HPV, and more.

It’s part of what’s required to enter the public school system, attend sleepaway camps, go to college, and so much more.

So why the hesitation toward the COVID-19 vaccines, and what can we do to help get us closer to herd immunity? What can we learn from past successful vaccine campaigns to help move this one forward?