Showing posts with label herd immunity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label herd immunity. Show all posts
Sunday, April 19, 2020
The Herd Immunity
Actually, we should call it 'population immunity' as we're not livestock, but the term 'herd' keeps popping up in articles or interviews on covid-19, whether in hebrew or in english.
The theory behind 'herd immunity' is that the virus won't disappear by itself, and we don't know when there will be a vaccine against it . So, currently, there are two options to prevent spreading of the infection:
1. isolation, social distancing, quarantine
2. herd immunity.
The first option usually has good results in a community/region/country where people are disciplined and willing to make temporary or long-term sacrifices on the economic and social levels.
The second option , that of 'herd immunity' occurs , according to specialists on the matter, when at least 60% of the population (the herd), gets exposed to the virus, contracts the disease, develops anti-bodies, recovers , becomes immune to it, and in this way slows down and eventually stops spreading of the virus.
The above mentioned exposure is not done as an attempt to get intentionally infected in order to build immunity.
It is done through trying to return, even partially, to the routine of work, shopping, sports, and other life activities which, sadly, carry the risk of infection.
I must confess, it all seems to me rather complicated and risky.
I don't envy those that have to take and implement decisions regarding easement on coronavirus restrictions,
It's a terrible responsability.
Anyway ,in my country, we need a miracle, and fast, before things get chaotic.
Labels:
anti-bodies,
chaotic,
herd immunity,
infection,
miracle.,
vaccine
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