{"id":8825,"date":"2021-05-17T16:47:21","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T16:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/?p=8825"},"modified":"2024-07-22T15:23:13","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T15:23:13","slug":"community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"What is &#8220;Herd Immunity&#8221;?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-8825\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-8825-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-8825-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-8825-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<table style=\"height: 62px;background-color: #0e4c90\" width=\"1637\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;font-size: 24pt\">RCAHD Community Health Update<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: #ffffff;font-size: 12pt\">A Roanoke City &amp; Alleghany Health Districts publication<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>When the virus that causes COVID-19 was first identified in the United States last year, it quickly spread through communities throughout the country because it was a new virus against which we did not have any natural immunity. Simply put, immunity, or our ability to resist a bacteria or virus, occurs when our bodies create antibodies and\/or specialized blood cells to fight against these infectious \u201cinvaders.\u201d Ending the pandemic will require a significant percentage of people to become immune to the disease.<\/p>\n<p>Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of the population (the herd) is immune to an infectious disease. If enough people are protected, there is some indirect protection for those who do not have immunity, for example, people who cannot get vaccinated because of their age (very young children) or because of an underlying medical condition.<\/p>\n<p>Measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox are examples of infectious diseases that were once very common but are now rare in the U.S., in part because of herd immunity. There are two ways to achieve herd immunity: when a large portion of the population gets infected with the disease, or when a large portion receives a protective vaccine. Of the two, vaccination is far preferable because it avoids unnecessary illnesses and death associated with the actual disease.<\/p>\n<p>Although we have learned a lot about COVID-19 in the last year, we don\u2019t know the exact percentage of people who need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity in any given community. Experts don\u2019t believe that there will be a \u201cherd immunity day\u201d that will allow life to immediately go back to normal. And we certainly aren\u2019t at high enough levels yet but every day, more people are choosing to get vaccinated, bringing us closer to our goal.<\/p>\n<p>Although we have not reached herd immunity, as our vaccination rates increase and our COVID-19 case counts decrease, we are making progress. Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Governor Northam announced that fully vaccinated individuals can enjoy taking steps that lead us back to a more normal way of life. For example, fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask when they are out and about. This is a powerful incentive to get vaccinated!<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, while we are making progress, the reality is that this pandemic is a global challenge and we\u2019ll have to see immunization rates rise around the world before we can truly put COVID-19 behind us. It is important to acknowledge that we are likely to continue to experience ups and downs in these unprecedented times but we can all do our part. Getting vaccinated is the single best way out of this pandemic!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-8825-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-8825-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-8825-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-flat-bfdfc6dbd1d9-8825\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-center\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/community-update\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"sowb-button ow-icon-placement-left ow-button-hover\" \t>\n\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-icomoon\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xe904;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"color: #ffffff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\tCommunity Update Home\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-8825-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-8825-1-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-flat-bfdfc6dbd1d9-8825\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-center\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"sowb-button ow-icon-placement-right ow-button-hover\" \t>\n\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-icomoon\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xe900;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"color: #ffffff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\tRCAHD Homepage\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-8825-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-8825-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-8825-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-post-carousel panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-post-carousel so-widget-sow-post-carousel-base-8415c3b0c03d-8825\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"sow-post-carousel-wrapper sow-post-carousel-theme-base\"\n\t\tstyle=\"overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; min-height: 182px\"\n\t>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-title\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-navigation \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"sow-carousel-next\" title=\"Next\" aria-label=\"Next Posts\" role=\"button\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"sow-carousel-previous\" title=\"Previous\" aria-label=\"Previous Posts\" role=\"button\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"sow-carousel-container \">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-wrapper\"\n\t\tdata-dir=\"ltr\"\n\t\tstyle=\"opacity: 0;\"\n\t\tdata-widget=\"post\" data-fetching=\"false\" data-page=\"1\" data-ajax-url=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php?_widgets_nonce=0091d72f45\" data-item_count=\"71\" data-carousel_settings=\"{&quot;loop&quot;:true,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;Ease&quot;,&quot;animation_speed&quot;:800,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;off&quot;,&quot;pauseOnHover&quot;:false,&quot;autoplaySpeed&quot;:8000,&quot;item_overflow&quot;:true,&quot;autoplay_continuous_scroll&quot;:false}\" data-responsive=\"{&quot;desktop_slides_to_scroll&quot;:3,&quot;tablet_landscape_breakpoint&quot;:1366,&quot;tablet_landscape_slides_to_scroll&quot;:2,&quot;tablet_portrait_breakpoint&quot;:1025,&quot;tablet_portrait_slides_to_scroll&quot;:2,&quot;mobile_breakpoint&quot;:480,&quot;mobile_slides_to_scroll&quot;:1}\" data-variable_width=\"true\" \t>\n\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-carousel-items\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/11\/13\/taking-steps-to-address-heart-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2024\/02\/Heart-Awareness-488x326-1-272x182.png )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11948\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/11\/13\/taking-steps-to-address-heart-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11948\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tTaking Steps to Address Heart Health\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/10\/15\/updated-tips-for-the-2024-respiratory-season\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2024\/10\/Covid-Lungs-Graphic-488x326-1-272x182.png )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11895\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/10\/15\/updated-tips-for-the-2024-respiratory-season\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11895\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tUpdated Tips for the 2024 Respiratory Season\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/09\/23\/substance-use-disorder-finding-the-good-news\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2024\/09\/Helping-Hands-Sunset-488x3262-1-272x182.jpg )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11836\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/09\/23\/substance-use-disorder-finding-the-good-news\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11836\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tSubstance Use Disorder &#8211; Finding the Good News\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/09\/03\/protecting-our-pets-and-families-from-rabies\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2024\/08\/World-Rabies-Day-489x326-1-272x182.jpg )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11784\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/09\/03\/protecting-our-pets-and-families-from-rabies\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11784\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tProtecting Our Pets and Families from Rabies\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/08\/12\/disease-defenders-how-epidemiology-protects-community-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/02\/Vaccination-barriers-488x326-1-272x182.png )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11727\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/08\/12\/disease-defenders-how-epidemiology-protects-community-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11727\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tDisease Defenders \u2013 How Epidemiology Protects Community Health\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/07\/22\/aging-and-brain-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2023\/10\/Strokeaware-488x326-1-272x182.jpg )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11617\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/07\/22\/aging-and-brain-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11617\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tAging and Brain Health\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/05\/20\/taking-care-of-our-mental-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/05\/Mental-Health-488x326-1-272x182.png )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11536\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/05\/20\/taking-care-of-our-mental-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11536\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tTaking Care of Our Mental Health\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/04\/29\/fight-the-bite-tick-borne-diseases\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2022\/08\/Tick-488x326-1-272x182.png )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11504\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/04\/29\/fight-the-bite-tick-borne-diseases\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11504\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tFight the Bite: Tick-Borne Diseases\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/04\/08\/finding-solutions-to-improve-reproductive-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2024\/04\/clinicianAndPatient488x326-272x182.jpg )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11459\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/04\/08\/finding-solutions-to-improve-reproductive-health\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11459\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tFinding Solutions to Improve Reproductive Health\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-item\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"float: left;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sow-carousel-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/03\/18\/national-public-health-week-2024\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: url( https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2024\/03\/AR-cover-488x326-1-272x182.jpg )\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"sow-carousel-id-11420\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"overlay\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"sow-carousel-item-title\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2024\/03\/18\/national-public-health-week-2024\/\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"sow-carousel-id-11420\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\tNational Public Health Week 2024\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"instance_hash\" value=\"f28f87ad\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City &amp; Alleghany Health Districts publication When the virus that causes COVID-19 was first identified in the United States last year, it quickly spread through communities throughout the country because it was a new virus against which we did not have any natural immunity. Simply put, immunity, or our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":8931,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-updates"],"modified_by":"shannonbowles","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is &quot;Herd Immunity&quot;? - Roanoke Health District<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is &quot;Herd Immunity&quot;? - Roanoke Health District\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City &amp; Alleghany Health Districts publication When the virus that causes COVID-19 was first identified in the United States last year, it quickly spread through communities throughout the country because it was a new virus against which we did not have any natural immunity. Simply put, immunity, or our [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Roanoke Health District\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RoanokeCityAlleghanyHealthDistricts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-05-17T16:47:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-07-22T15:23:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/05\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"488\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"326\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"shannonbowles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"shannonbowles\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"shannonbowles\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e39401294a5c894df023b637070e4da2\"},\"headline\":\"What is &#8220;Herd Immunity&#8221;?\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-17T16:47:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-07-22T15:23:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":497,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/128\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Community Updates\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/\",\"name\":\"What is \\\"Herd Immunity\\\"? - Roanoke Health District\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/128\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-17T16:47:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-07-22T15:23:13+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/128\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/128\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png\",\"width\":488,\"height\":326,\"caption\":\"Large multi-cultural group of people protected by large bubble from covid\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/17\\\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What is &#8220;Herd Immunity&#8221;?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/\",\"name\":\"Roanoke Health District\",\"description\":\"Just another Virginia Department of Health site\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Roanoke Health District\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/128\\\/2022\\\/08\\\/RCAHlogo_original_color_web.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/128\\\/2022\\\/08\\\/RCAHlogo_original_color_web.png\",\"width\":455,\"height\":213,\"caption\":\"Roanoke Health District\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/RoanokeCityAlleghanyHealthDistricts\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e39401294a5c894df023b637070e4da2\",\"name\":\"shannonbowles\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1bf455a561806f8651e3d1ffd798092e579e1a1f879c0fb691ff3ac9017929f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1bf455a561806f8651e3d1ffd798092e579e1a1f879c0fb691ff3ac9017929f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1bf455a561806f8651e3d1ffd798092e579e1a1f879c0fb691ff3ac9017929f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"shannonbowles\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/roanoke\\\/author\\\/shannonbowles\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is \"Herd Immunity\"? - Roanoke Health District","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is \"Herd Immunity\"? - Roanoke Health District","og_description":"RCAHD Community Health Update A Roanoke City &amp; Alleghany Health Districts publication When the virus that causes COVID-19 was first identified in the United States last year, it quickly spread through communities throughout the country because it was a new virus against which we did not have any natural immunity. Simply put, immunity, or our [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/","og_site_name":"Roanoke Health District","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RoanokeCityAlleghanyHealthDistricts","article_published_time":"2021-05-17T16:47:21+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-07-22T15:23:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":488,"height":326,"url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/05\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"shannonbowles","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"shannonbowles","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/"},"author":{"name":"shannonbowles","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#\/schema\/person\/e39401294a5c894df023b637070e4da2"},"headline":"What is &#8220;Herd Immunity&#8221;?","datePublished":"2021-05-17T16:47:21+00:00","dateModified":"2024-07-22T15:23:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/"},"wordCount":497,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/05\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png","articleSection":["Community Updates"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/","url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/","name":"What is \"Herd Immunity\"? - Roanoke Health District","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/05\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png","datePublished":"2021-05-17T16:47:21+00:00","dateModified":"2024-07-22T15:23:13+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/05\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2021\/05\/Herd-Immunity-488x326-1.png","width":488,"height":326,"caption":"Large multi-cultural group of people protected by large bubble from covid"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/2021\/05\/17\/community-update-week-of-may-17th-2021\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What is &#8220;Herd Immunity&#8221;?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/","name":"Roanoke Health District","description":"Just another Virginia Department of Health site","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#organization","name":"Roanoke Health District","url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2022\/08\/RCAHlogo_original_color_web.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2022\/08\/RCAHlogo_original_color_web.png","width":455,"height":213,"caption":"Roanoke Health District"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RoanokeCityAlleghanyHealthDistricts"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/#\/schema\/person\/e39401294a5c894df023b637070e4da2","name":"shannonbowles","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1bf455a561806f8651e3d1ffd798092e579e1a1f879c0fb691ff3ac9017929f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1bf455a561806f8651e3d1ffd798092e579e1a1f879c0fb691ff3ac9017929f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1bf455a561806f8651e3d1ffd798092e579e1a1f879c0fb691ff3ac9017929f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"shannonbowles"},"url":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/author\/shannonbowles\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/450"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8825"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11673,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8825\/revisions\/11673"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/roanoke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}