Here's How Many Americans May Already Have Some Protection Against COVID-19

A recent study suggests as many as a third of the United States population has some degree of protection against COVID-19.

A CNN analysis suggests about 12% of people nationwide have either been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 and are naturally immune to the virus for a period of time.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest data shows about 6% of Americans have already received at least one dose of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccination, which is close to 20 million people. Trial data shows having the first dose can offer partial protection against the virus while waiting to get the second dose.

The data also showed more than 3.8 million Americans have received both doses.

A study by Public Health England revealed individuals who have been infected and recovered are largely immune to COVID-19 for at least five months. A total of 25 million positive cases have been reported to the CDC, which represents about 8% of the U.S. population, with many falling within the timeframe of the last five months,

However, the CDC believes only a fraction of the total cases of COVID-19 within the U.S. have actually been reported and, with estimates showing the total cases possibly exceeded 83 million through December, as well as an additional five million in January, about 88 million U.S. residents, which is more than 25% of the population, may be protected from COVID-19 after having recently recovered from the virus.

Experts still suggests that individuals who already had COVID-19 get the vaccine and that immunity only lasts for a certain amount of time.

CNN said its estimates do not account for any potential overlap among individuals who have been counted as being vaccinated and having recently been infected. However, with 6% of the population having been vaccinated and potentially a quarter of individuals possibly immune after infection, the study suggests as many as 1 in 3 people may at least be partially protected against the coronavirus.

On Tuesday (January 26), President Joe Biden announced his plan to increase the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to 300 million by late summer or early fall.

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