Help Your Community Achieve “Herd Immunity”
According to public health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, the quickest way to get back to doing the things we enjoy such as spending time with family and friends is to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when enough people become immune to an infectious disease that it is unlikely to spread from person to person. The quickest way to achieve herd immunity is to get vaccinated.
Currently, health experts believe that to achieve herd immunity from the coronavirus 70% of the population needs to be immune, which if achieved can halt the pandemic*. That is why PVM wants to lead the way and have - at each of our communities - at least 70% of staff and residents get vaccinated.
To keep track of your community’s progress toward that goal, we have created a poster with a thermometer on it that will be displayed in your community in a place everyone can see. After you have been vaccinated, let your Administrator know so they can fill in the thermometer accordingly. Any information you share with your Administrator about being vaccinated will be kept strictly confidential.
Of course your participation in this campaign is strictly voluntary. And should 70% of staff and residents at your community get vaccinated, it does not mean you can do away with mask wearing, physical distancing and practicing proper hand hygiene. True herd immunity won’t occur until at least 70% of the entire U.S. population becomes immune, but we can lead the way and show the nation it is possible!
To find out where to get vaccinated, visit www.michigan.gov/covidvaccine.
*This target may change due to changes in the virus that make it more infectious.
