Herd Immunity Feasible if Vaccine Efficacy Over 80%: Expert

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist with the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono, on Tuesday said the mass vaccination program profusely campaigned by the government is not aimed to reach herd immunity but rather to reduce the Covid-19 mortality rate and severe cases. 

His comment was a response to a statement made by Jakarta deputy governor Ahmad Riza Patria. The deputy governor previously announced that Jakarta is currently categorized as a Covid ‘green zone’ driven by the dropping number of cases, which he attributed to herd immunity following widespread mass vaccinations.

Riono argued that herd immunity can only be reached if vaccine efficacy is over 80 percent which would be difficult to realize in Jakarta. He reasoned that Jakarta generally used vaccine with 55-60 percent efficacy. Moreover, viral mutation also poses a risk of reducing that efficacy level.

“Even though vaccinations are at 100 percent, population immunity levels will only be 60 percent at the highest, while it would actually need over 80 percent to provide sufficient protection,” said Pandu Riono on August 24, Antaranews reported. 

“It would be difficult to reach herd immunity. But the importance of vaccines remains as we are aiming to reduce the number of deaths and severe cases of Covid-19,” the epidemiologist added. 

Pandu Riono reminded the public that ending the pandemic cannot solely rely on vaccinations. The government must push people to reduce the risk of being exposed to the virus by implementing proper testing, tracing, and treatment procedures. 

Read: Minister Luhut Says Herd Immunity Difficult to Achieve

ANTARA