Thread by @AbdulElSayed

I keep hearing #herdimmunity is going to solve #COVID. Here's why IT WON'T WORK:

First, a primer on what "herd immunity" is:

Getting an infectious illness requires contacting people who are infected. If ppl are immune, they can't carry the virus.

SO...

THREAD

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The more people who are immune in a "herd", the less likely anyone in the herd is to contact anyone who is infected--the less the disease spreads.

You're protected by the immunity of ppl around you.

Herd immunity is a key reason why vaccines are so powerful.

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But there is no #COVIDー19 vaccine. And the only way to obtain herd immunity is for ppl to GET THE DISEASE.

Ppl telling us that the solution is "herd immunity" are literally saying that we should encourage more people to get sick.

That's CRAZYTOWN for three reasons:

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Reason 1: The more the disease spreads, the more vulnerable ppl will get it. More will die.

Reason 2: NOBODY knows how serious their case will be. Even among young people in whom mortality is low--0.2% is a real number. Of 1000 people who get it, 2 will die.

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Reason 3: To achieve herd immunity for #COVIDー19 you'd need between 50-60% to be immune--meaning to have already gotten the disease.

At the low end, if #COVID mortality is 1.5% over 50% of the US (1.75M ppl) that is 2,625,000 ppl would die before we achieved herd immunity.

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And that's why #herdimmunity WILL NOT save us from #COVIDー19. What will is mitigating spread through #socialdistancing, proper hygiene, and vigilance.

#TheMoreYouKnow

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