Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh
It was in answer to a specific question about how close were we to herd immunity, rather than "should we go for herd immunity?"...
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I don't think you are correct but that's just my opinion.
No-one asked should we go for it but he did put forward some very good points without ruling it out.
1. To achieve herd immunity we need 60-70% of the population to carry antibodies to the virus.
I think everyone can agree with that.
2.It assumes complete mixing of the population, but there are reasons – in part to do with the social networks people form – why the whole population may not be available for infection at any given time.
They won't be available if in lockdown. Add in 6 degrees of separation and social networks are negated.
3. Networks shift, and new people are exposed to the virus. Such effects can drive waves of infection.
See the answer to 2.
4. Another factor that could impact herd immunity is whether other coronaviruses – those that cause the common cold, for example – offer protection to this one. We don’t know, but it’s possible.
If they do or not does not negate if herd immunity is possible or achieveable.