Merit Family,

As the vaccine rollout progresses, you may have heard the term “herd immunity” mentioned as an indicator of when the pandemic will be over. I want to provide some information clarifying what this means in addition to our regular vaccine update.

VACCINE ROLLOUT UPDATES

As of April 25th, 2021, over 1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in 172 countries—approximately 19.2 million doses per day. So far in the US, 229 million doses have been given, according to a state-by-state tally. In the last week, an average of 2.75 million doses per day were administered. At this rate, it will take an estimated 3 months to cover 75% of the US population with a two-dose vaccine.

Woman getting COVID Vaccine

Although the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused toward the beginning of April in the US due to a handful of related blood clot cases, both the FDA and CDC have cleared the vaccine for continued distribution as of April 23rd. Investigations showed that the risk of developing these blood clots is extremely rare, with only 15 cases among the nearly 7 million Johnson & Johnson shots administered.

Once we’re vaccinated, it’s still important to wear masks, avoid gathering, and practice social distancing. Experts stress that until we see a significant reduction in transmission, illnesses, and deaths, we should still abide by these guidelines.

HERD IMMUNITY:

HOW WILL WE KNOW WHEN WE REACH IT?

While there are still many variables at play when it comes to COVID-19, it’s true that throughout history, most viral outbreaks and pandemics have ended when a population reaches a significant enough level of protection against a disease that it’s no longer able to spread from person to person—a phenomenon known as herd immunity. But how exactly does herd immunity work, and how will we know when we reach this threshold for COVID-19? Let’s break it down:

Herd Immunity

There are two main paths to herd immunity for COVID-19, either by natural infection or a vaccine. Although becoming infected with the virus will create some degree of immunity in your body, it’s unclear how strong this protection is, and this route will result in far more health complications and deaths. Administering vaccines to the majority of the population is the safest and most reliable way of achieving herd immunity.
Herd immunity protects those who are unable to get the vaccine, whether due to a compromised immune system or limited by age, such as children and newborns. When every able person agrees to receive a vaccine, we can protect the most vulnerable members of our community by preventing transmission.
We don’t know for certain what COVID-19’s threshold for herd immunity is, though some experts agree that vaccinating 70-80% of the population will enable a return to a pre-pandemic lifestyle. As we learn more about the virus, scientists will be able to better say when herd immunity is reached.

Vaccines play a crucial role in reaching herd immunity. I recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please talk to your healthcare provider. As a reminder, Merit partnered with the Salt Lake County Health Department to provide vaccine education. These videos are excellent resources and are available in English and Spanish.

VACCINES AT MERIT

The Merit Salt Lake Clinic has been approved for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. We are waiting for our allocation of doses, and we will start scheduling appointments as soon as possible. Stay tuned as more information becomes available!

HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE WEEK

To help you get through the season in a COVID-19-friendly way, in each newsletter I’ll provide a new healthy recipe to try. This week?

Homemade Hummus

Who says a snack can’t be both healthy and delicious? Research has linked hummus and its ingredients to a variety of impressive health benefits, including helping fight inflammation, improving blood sugar control, better digestive health, lower heart disease risk and weight loss. This homemade hummus is packed with plant-based protein. Serve it as a dip with fresh veggies for a balanced snack. Get the recipe here.

SILVER LINING STORY

It seems like every day (COVID-19 or no) we’re bombarded with frightening and worrisome news. But the truth of the matter is, good things are happening all around us—we just have to look

UK Recycling Campaign Targets Masks

Medical masks have been a key player in helping reduce the spread of COVID-19 over the past year, but what do we do with them once they’re used? Waterhaul, a social enterprise company in the UK, is seeking to answer that question.

In the UK alone, 58 million masks are used per day, making them one of the most common forms of plastic pollution, with an estimated 1.5 billion masks already having entered the ocean since the pandemic began. As mask usage is still required as a preventative measure in the spread of COVID-19, these figures are expected to grow, causing lasting environmental damage.

Waterhaul partnered with local hospitals to melt down used masks to create plastic blocks, which can then be transformed into “litter pickers”—devices that siphon more trash from waterways. Other uses for recycled masks include chairs and desks for schools, building materials, or recycling bins.

Interested in how you can help out? Consider swapping your disposable mask for a reusable cloth mask made from cotton. Because these masks can be washed and worn many times and are made of a natural fiber, they’re much kinder to the environment.