Some community members still hesitant about Covid-19 vaccine

As the vaccine becomes available to more people, not everyone is signing up yet.

Even as the becomes available to more people - not everyone is signing up for the shot.

New at 5-- -- action news now reporter krisitan lopez looks at how this could impact our drive for herd immunity.

Kristian: here's where we stand right now as far as herd immunity goes.

Both california and the country are at about 15 percent.

For full herd immunity we need to be around 75-80 percent.

But with some people hesitant to get vaccinated it could take us longer to hit those numbers.

Adam amani/waiting before getting vaccine: i won't be getting the vaccine right away.

Adam amani will be eligible for the vaccine in a couple of weeks but tells me he may not get it then.

Adam amani/waiting before getting vaccine: i want to see what kind of effects it has long term on most people.

I do have friends on both sides of it, some that are waiting like me.

As someone who has already had covid, and built some immunity i have no issue waiting at all.

I took amani's concern to butte county health officer dr. robert bernstein.

Kristian: what do you want to tell people who are hesistant about getting the vaccine?

Dr. robert bernstein: we don't know that there are any long term adverse effects of getting the approved vaccines, because we've only been giving them for a short time, we do know all three are very effective in preventing moderate to severe disease and avoiding deaths that very good information.

Bernstein says immunity from natural infection is not as effective as the vaccine.

Dr. robert bernstein : the vaccines provide not only antibodies but cellular immunity which will be more persistant in preventing disease and transmission.

Kristian: again this is where we stand and this is where we need to be when it comes to herd immunity.

Dr. bernstein says it's important for everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they're eligible - to reach that level.

In chico kristian lopez action news now coverage you can count on.

Again - butte county just opened up vaccinations to people 16 and up and the state will do the same starting