Huntsville Infectious Disease Specialist discusses progress in reaching herd immunity

Huntsville Infectious Disease Specialist discusses progress in reaching herd immunity

First.

More vaccine in the arms of alabamians means that more people are immune to the coronavirus.

But how far along is alabama in reaching herd immunity?

Waay 31's olvia schueller spoke to an infectious disease specialist to get that answer.

Olivia - where do we stand in alabama?

Dan, we're not there just yet.

70 percent of our population needs to be vaccinated in order for us to reach herd immunity...doctor hassoun said only 20 to 30 percent of people in the state are vaccinated, and alabamian's i spoke to know that we need more time before reaching herd immunity.

Tyron mckune, huntsville resident moving in the right direction, yeah, but it'll take longer.

Reid killen, huntsville resident i don't think we're quite there yet, as a nation or alabama, but i think will soon be there as more and more people get vaccinated the key that un-locks the door to herd immunity is more vaccinations statewide.

Huntsville hospital opened an online self scheduling application.

Athen's limestone hospital, taking walk-ins starting next monday.

Dr. ali hassoun, disease inection speaclist if we keep encouraging people to vaccinate, it might be probably two months from now.

Dr. hassoun said not wearing a mask could slow the state down from reaching herd immunity.

Tyron mckune, huntsville resident i think people are too anxious to take their mask off, they're not thinking health reasons or how it affects the covid numbers going up.

Until we reach herd immunity doctor hassoun said the virus can still easily go around.

A month ago about 10- percent of the state's population had both their vaccines, so that percentage is growing, but with time.

Reporting live in downtown huntsville olivia schueller waay 31 news.