(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19/BLM: “I ‘herd’ it through the grapevine”
COVID-19 “herd immunity” is a national goal that might help put us out of harms way. But government messaging has not been clear. When Dr. Anthony Fauci says we need 85% for herd immunity, it doesn’t only mean those Americans who are vaccinated.
A week before my first injection, a blood test revealed no antibodies. Despite exposure to patients who had the diagnosis, more than likely I never had COVID-19. Two weeks after my 2nd vaccination, blood was drawn. I was loaded with antibodies meaning the vaccine worked!
Right now, the spotlight is on the number of individuals who have received a vaccination, and this assumes they all developed antibodies. But 50% inoculation does not mean we are 50% toward herd immunity. Why? Because those who were infected with COVID-19 also developed antibodies. These individuals should also be counted. This is the definition of herd immunity.
A national barometer (like those in fundraising) using the sum of those inoculated, and those previously infected, might provide a clearer picture of achieving our goal for herd immunity.
Improved messaging is important diminishing misconceptions and rumors, and might keep us from being pestered by “I ‘herd’ it through the grapevine.”
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
Excellent point!
1-Antibodies are not the main method of fighting the coronavirus. It is the T Cells that are the most important particularly CD4+.
2-Significant numbers of people who are covid19 19 naive still have cross reactive T Cells possibly due to CCC Common Cold Coronavirus.
3-Asymptomatic exposure to Covid19 will also contribute to the reduction in percentages necessary for herd mentality.
4-Because of this some ID experts are now indicating that only approximately 60-70% vaccination may be the range for herd immunity.