The core U.S. strategy for returning to pre-pandemic societal functioning is to vaccinate all eligible individuals. The two Covid-19 vaccines currently approved for emergency use and being distributed to the states have been shown to be highly effective in preventing infection and serious disease. It is hoped, but not yet proven, that the vaccines will also prevent transmission from a vaccinated person who has been exposed to an unimmunized individual, an important step to achieving herd immunity. The key to securing these benefits is getting people to accept vaccination. The CDC has recommended that health-care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities be offered the first doses of Covid-19 vaccines, as they are high-risk populations.
