Herd Immunity v. Vaccine Hesitancy

Scientists have estimated that 70 to 90 percent of the total population must acquire resistance to the virus to reach herd immunity. More than half of U.S. adults have received at least one vaccine dose.

However, the New York Times reported the relationship between vaccination and politics reflects demographics, and partisanship.

Vaccine hesitancy is highest in counties that are rural and have lower income levels and college graduation rates. The same people were more likely to have voted for Trump. The partisan divide remains after accounting for income, race and age, population. and a county’s infection and death rate. See these charts.

Dr. Lisa Cooper is the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity. She is not surprised that Trump supporters are more hesitant.

“These are people who were fed untruths about how this virus wasn’t real,” Dr. Cooper said. “I think it is carrying through in the vaccination realm, too.”