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Is Omicron bringing us closer to herd immunity?

Politiko 2022-02-23 09:20:32

Is Omicron bringing us closer to herd immunity?

Does Omicron bring us closer to herd immunity against COVID-19? Experts say it is unlikely that the highly transmissible variant, or any other variant, will lead to herd immunity.

"Clutch immunity is an elusive concept and does not apply to the coronavirus," says Dr. Don Milton at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

Herd immunity is when a large number of the population is immune to a virus that it is difficult for the germ to spread to those who are not protected by vaccination or a previous infection.

For example, herd immunity to measles requires about 95% of a community to be immune. Early hopes for herd immunity against the coronavirus were dashed for several reasons.

One is that antibodies developed from available vaccines or previous infections diminish over time.

While vaccines offer strong protection against serious diseases, declining antibodies mean it is still possible to become infected.

Then there is a big difference in vaccines. In some low-income countries, less than 5% of the population is vaccinated. Rich countries are struggling with vaccine reluctance. And young children are still not eligible in many countries.

As the virus spreads, it changes - helping the virus survive and creating new variants. These mutants - such as omicron - can do better in avoiding the protection that humans have from vaccines or an early infection.

Populations are moving toward "herd resistance," where infections will continue, but people have enough protection so that future points are not so devastating to society, Milton says.

Many scientists believe that COVID-19 will eventually become like the flu and cause seasonal outbreaks, but not large increases.

Source: AP

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