'Herd immunity' can help prevent spread of flu: study

Herd immunity has a cost.

Compared to the lockdowns and shuttered businesses in countries across the world, Sweden is an outlier. Swedish officials have advised citizens to work from home and avoid travel, but most schools and businesses have remained open. This relaxed approach aims to minimize impact on the economy and slow the spread of the virus through what is known as “herd immunity.” But striving for herd immunity without a controlled vaccine in place can also prove risky.

Compared to the lockdowns and shuttered businesses in countries across the world, Sweden is an outlier. Swedish officials have advised citizens to work from home and avoid travel, but most schools and businesses have remained open. This relaxed approach aims to minimize impact on the economy and slow the spread of the virus through what is known as “herd immunity.” But striving for herd immunity without a controlled vaccine in place can also prove risky.

You've heard the term "herd immunity." Here's what it means and why it's important as we think about returning to something like a normal life.

Yes, there are significant health risks associated with lockdown. But returning to normal life too soon and rushing herd immunity would be even worse.

Herd immunity occurs when a large percentage of a population is immune to an infectious disease. There are two ways to achieve it: by exposing a large percentage of the population to a virus, or by producing a vaccine.

We don't know enough about the coronavirus to experiment with deliberately infecting volunteers with COVID-19.

It will take more care than the president is currently demonstrating to loosen restrictions but still protect the vulnerable.

In the long run, it could protect us from future COVID-19 outbreaks. To get there, we need an effective vaccine.

Herd immunity means that after a certain percentage of a population is immune to a disease, the whole population is. This is usually achieved through vaccination but some are not convinced.

If Australia were to lift all restrictions in the pursuit of herd immunity we should expect cycling epidemics of COVID-19, increased absenteeism, and ultimately more deaths, one of Australia's leading pandemic experts has warned.

If Australia were to lift all restrictions in the pursuit of herd immunity we should expect cycling epidemics of COVID-19, increased absenteeism, and ultimately more deaths, one of Australia's leading pandemic experts has warned.

If Australia were to lift all restrictions in the pursuit of herd immunity we should expect cycling epidemics of COVID-19, increased absenteeism, and ultimately more deaths, one of Australia's leading pandemic experts has warned.

The match has since received a huge amount of scrutiny after a huge crowd of 54,000 - with 3,000 fans arriving from Madrid - were allowed to attend the match, against the advice of the WHO.

The match has since received a huge amount of scrutiny after a huge crowd of 54,000 - with 3,000 fans arriving from Madrid - were allowed to attend the match, against the advice of the WHO.

Muliyil tells Somesh Jha that the days of eradicating the disease is over and the country should move towards developing 'herd immunity'