A doctor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Public Health says we might be nearing the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Suzanne Judd told reporters Wednesday it’s the consistent trend of fewer hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases that’s giving her this hope.
“There have been huge decreases in those populations that are getting vaccinated at high levels,” Judd said. “One of the things everyone is always asking is this concept of herd immunity, which to scientists has a very specific connotation. That’s the level of immunity needed to wipe the virus out.”
Vaccination rates are slowing, but it’s not because of supply issues. Instead, those who haven’t gotten one of the three vaccines available said they’re hesitant.
“It’s going to be more challenging,” Judd said. “We have more work today in the public health community. One thing I want you to know is that public health is more than just an epidemiologist like me. There are also health behavior experts that know how to motivate people and encourage them to get vaccinated.”
Judd said she believes in the public health system and thinks Alabama can reach the goal of getting 70% of the population vaccinated.
Those in public health are just going to have to approach it differently, she said.
“The first 30% that jumped at the vaccine, those were the easy folks,” Judd said. Those were the folks that believed in it. They believed that the vaccine would prevent them from getting sick, so they jumped at the opportunity. Now, we must convince another 40% who may not be as eager to get vaccinated. They may say, ‘well I’m not going to go to a website and sign up. But if you give me a $10 gift card, then I am willing to get vaccinated.’ So, we have to change our strategy a little bit to engage the next 40%.”
Children will be part of this strategy, she said.
“The vaccine’s been opened up to 12 to 15-year-olds, so that also will change the strategy about where and how we vaccinate individuals, how we provide the vaccine, how we talk about it,” Judd said.
