What Is Herd Immunity?

With the advent of the Covid-19, no one was immune to the virus. Because there was no immunity, it was easy for the virus to spread across communities. However, when a greater population (usually 70-90%) is immune to the virus 75% who get into contact with a carrier won’t get it. If you are infected with measles but everyone you interact with has been vaccinated, transmission will be stopped in its tracks. Therefore the spread of the virus is kept to a manageable level. Herd immunity helped curb infectious diseases like chicken pox, mumps, measles, and recently, polio through the use of vaccines.

  There are basically two ways to achieve herd immunity: a large swath of the population gets infected or get a vaccine. But In the absence of a vaccine, developing immunity to a disease like Covid-19 requires actually being infected with the coronavirus. For this to work, prior infection has to confer immunity against future infection. Sweden is best known for being an advocate of herd immunity Sweden, The nation  is asking older people and those with underlying health issues to self-quarantine but is keeping many schools, restaurants and bars open. Many commentators have suggested that this would also be a good policy for poorer countries like those in Africa. But given the fatality rate, there is no way to do this without huge numbers of casualties,  considering the fact that Sweden has already seen far more deaths than its neighbors. 

  For herd immunity to actually work, vaccination must have coferred immunity or prior infection has to confer immunity against future infectio.  At present there is no vaccination and Science has not yet proven that a person cured of Covid-19 can not be reinfected. Scientists believe the time to discuss herd immunity is when we have a vaccine developed, and not before. The way to stop the spread of Covid-19 is by avoiding people who are sick.

So stay home, stay safe, and practice physical distancing as much as possible.