It has been said throughout the pandemic that the population must build up ‘herd immunity’ for COVID-19 through mass vaccinations, but what that must look like has yet to be determined.

According to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the measure for herd immunity changes depending on the virus.

For example, she says 90 per cent of the population must be given the shot for measles, but that’s not necessarily true for other viruses. When it comes to COVID-19, that is still under assessment.

One of the big hurdles in achieving herd immunity is the vaccination of children. As it stands right now, those under 16 years old cannot get the shot.

Fitzgerald acknowledges that the vaccination of children will need to be part of the strategy.

Studies are ongoing, and she’s hopeful that more information will soon be available from manufacturers.