Herd Immunity Not Possible in Long-Term Care

Efforts to make post-acute and long-term care communities safe from COVID-19 have resulted in crushing quarantine, social isolation, and mitigation practices for residents and staff. The only current hope of reestablishing any semblance of social normalcy is to create immunity to the disease by vaccination. But can a PALTC facility be a safe place if only a fraction of its residents and staff are vaccinated? If so, how many of them must be vaccinated in order for the facility to be considered safe? There is hope that herd immunity can play a key role in creating safety on a state or national level — if it is reached, an epidemic ends (Lancet 2020;396:810–811).
Source: Caring for the Ages - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: news