By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Herd immunity for COVID-19 could be on the horizon as long as vaccinations don't drop, according to State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.

Harris, who briefed lawmakers on Wednesday regarding the ongoing pandemic, stated, "Herd immunity just means that we have enough immunity in the population so that if you get a case of COVID, it’s not likely to spread to somebody else."

Harris said herd immunity might be reached by late summer, as long as vaccinations increase instead of decreasing like they have been in recent weeks.

Herd immunity is defined as a form of protection from an infectious disease, like the novel coronavirus, when a certain percentage of the population becomes immune through vaccinations or previous infections.

"I’d say that’s definitely possible, although we’re not moving at that speed right now, at least for the past two or three weeks," said Harris.

There is worry amongst federal officials that vaccine hesitancy could cause drops in vaccination rates and prevent herd immunity.

"Today, the federal government announced on the Governors’ Only call with the White House that states with a diminishing demand for vaccines may have their doses shifted to states with a higher demand. Y’all, we want shots in the arms and off the shelf," said Governor Kay Ivey. "If you are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine, please speak to a physician you trust and ask if he or she would recommend it for you. If we don’t use it, we could lose it."

"This is our ticket back to normal. The vaccine is free and could possibly save your life,” Ivey continued.

Harris said approximately 31 percent of eligible Alabamians, or 1.5 million people, are fully vaccinated. He kept the door open for COVID-19 vaccines to be a yearly injection, much like the flu shot. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that he would push for 70 percent of Americans vaccinated by July 4.