Every claim thus far that such and such a population has “reached herd immunity” is incorrect. That’s why we keep seeing surge after surge.
What is true is that partial population immunity changes the threshold at which behavioral change produces a plummet in cases ....
What is true is that partial population immunity changes the threshold at which behavioral change produces a plummet in cases ....
... even if, at the same time, a substantial portion of the population remains susceptible. Which means policy implications are limited.
An overly simplified, binary notion of “herd immunity” has been an unfortunate, misleading conceptual anchor throughout this pandemic.
An overly simplified, binary notion of “herd immunity” has been an unfortunate, misleading conceptual anchor throughout this pandemic.
An odd political side effect of Trumpian “herd immunity” boosterism was some degree of denialism that immune effects contributed in any way to plunges in cases —the ironic thing is that admitting the latter has little policy implications. Either way we want to squash & vaccinate.
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