FOX 11: LA County 'Herd Immunity' Now Expected in July

FOX 11 recently spoke with Michael Ben-Aderet, MD, associate director of Hospital Epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai, about reports that L.A. County could reach herd immunity against COVID-19 by this summer.

"Herd immunity means that one person having COVID is unlikely to spread COVID to anybody else," Ben-Aderet told Fox 11 reporter Laura Diaz. "It’s a very important milestone for us to hit."

Barbara Ferrer, MD, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, announced earlier this month that L.A. could reach the minimum vaccination threshold for herd immunity (around 80%) as early as July. If most residents become immune to the virus that causes COVID-19, they would also protect community members who are not immune.

Health officials have said that the county’s campaign to vaccinate residents has been key to achieving this milestone. But Ben-Aderet still advised caution.

"We've seen in L.A, we've been through several rounds, several really bad waves of COVID. We need to recognize that we’re doing well and recognize the things that we’ve done to get here," he told Diaz. "But we also need to bear in mind that COVID—the pandemic—is not over. It’s raging in many other places, and it is absolutely critical that we use this time where we are doing well to get out there, get vaccinated and get immune, so we don’t wind up with a fourth surge."

Ben-Aderet added that some studies have shown that those who have recovered from COVID-19 could have a natural immunity to the virus that lasts only about three months, and individuals who have recovered from the disease should still get vaccinated.

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