15. Herd Immunity and the Coming Tide of Normalcy w/ Monica Gandhi & Paul Offit

Now that vaccines are available to younger people who are unlikely to die from Covid-19, many are getting their shots with the understanding that they can finally bring down the barriers to normal social lives, and even dating and romance. While most experts agree the vaccines work, they disagree on whether people should feel okay about returning to normal interactions any time soon. And some warn of a pandemic that will linger for months, if not forever.

In this episode, I’ll talk with UCSF infectious disease doctor Monica Gandhi, who is advocating the kind of “harm reduction” approach developed during the AIDS crisis – when experts stopped condemning people for being human and instead found ways for us to more safely experience romance and love. She’s still very upbeat that vaccines will squash the disease through herd immunity.

My second guest is renowned vaccine expert Paul Offit, from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He, too, is upbeat about the lifesaving effects of vaccines, but is more concerned about the return to normal, which he says may come at a cost. At this point, normalcy may be rushing back like the tide, whether the experts approve or not.

“Follow the Science" is produced, written, and hosted by Faye Flam, with funding by the Society for Professional Journalists. Today’s episode was edited by Seth Gliksman with music by Kyle Imperatore. If you’d like to hear more "Follow the Science," please like, follow, and subscribe!