Experts answer whether Omicron variant leads to herd immunity [Video]

• Experts say that herd immunity does not apply to COVID-19 since it requires a huge percentage of the population to be immune.
• Because of the virus’s ability to mutate as it spreads, it continues to survive and elude previous countermeasures.
• Rather, populations are moving toward “herd resistance,” wherein people have enough protection that outbreaks are not as disruptive.

Is the omicron surge getting us any closer to herd immunity against COVID-19?

It’s not likely, experts say — and the same goes for other variants.

Dr. Don Milton, from the University of Maryland School of Public Health, explained, “Herd immunity is an elusive concept and doesn’t apply to coronavirus.”

Herd immunity only applies when enough of a population has become immune, such that it would be difficult for a virus to spread to unvaccinated or previously infected individuals.

Herd immunity usually requires a huge percentage of a community to be immune. For instance, measles would need 95% of a population to be immune.

There are several reasons why there is little hope for herd immunity against the coronavirus.

Vaccines and previous infections offer strong protection against severe illness in the form of antibodies. However, the strength of these antibodies wanes over time. This means that despite getting vaccinated or previously infected, one can still get infected.

Vaccination rates also vary greatly across the world. Some low-income countries have less than 5% vaccination rates. Meanwhile, rich countries have to contend with vaccine hesitancy. In many countries, young children are not eligible for vaccination.

The virus also keeps mutating as it spreads. These new variants, such as delta and omicron, can develop such that it breaks through protection from vaccines or previous infections.

Instead of herd immunity, populations are moving toward “herd resistance.” According to Milton, this means that people have enough protection such that future outbreaks wouldn’t be as disruptive to society.

Several experts believe that COVID-19 symptoms will eventually get less severe until it’s only like the flu, and that there will only be small seasonal outbreaks instead of huge surges.

Source: Aol.com