Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunity
The concept of Herd immunity is a key factor for epidemic control. According to it only a proportion of entire population needs to be immune either via natural infection or vaccination. The idea of herd immunity via natural infection rather than vaccination is a bit controversial, as it is not clear...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2021;volume=10;issue=4;spage=1515;epage=1519;aulast=Sharma |
| _version_ | 1818671555205398528 |
|---|---|
| author | Neha Sharma Shaili Vyas Archisman Mohapatra Rakhee Khanduri Pritam Roy Raman Kumar |
| author_facet | Neha Sharma Shaili Vyas Archisman Mohapatra Rakhee Khanduri Pritam Roy Raman Kumar |
| author_sort | Neha Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The concept of Herd immunity is a key factor for epidemic control. According to it only a proportion of entire population needs to be immune either via natural infection or vaccination. The idea of herd immunity via natural infection rather than vaccination is a bit controversial, as it is not clear how long will the antibodies last, and whether re-infection or re-activation of the virus can occur after the antibodies starts weaning from the body. It has been suggested that coronavirus will likely become similar to a seasonal flu once the herd immunity is attained. Till then, it will continue causing outbreaks year-round and there could be multiple waves of virus transmission before achieving herd immunity. Therefore, the public needs to learn to live with it, and continue practising the best prevention measures, including wearing of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and avoidance of gathering. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:25:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98576ba6a03c4e939aea7b6707214f02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2249-4863 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:25:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-98576ba6a03c4e939aea7b6707214f022022-12-21T21:58:38ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632021-01-011041515151910.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1971_20Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunityNeha SharmaShaili VyasArchisman MohapatraRakhee KhanduriPritam RoyRaman KumarThe concept of Herd immunity is a key factor for epidemic control. According to it only a proportion of entire population needs to be immune either via natural infection or vaccination. The idea of herd immunity via natural infection rather than vaccination is a bit controversial, as it is not clear how long will the antibodies last, and whether re-infection or re-activation of the virus can occur after the antibodies starts weaning from the body. It has been suggested that coronavirus will likely become similar to a seasonal flu once the herd immunity is attained. Till then, it will continue causing outbreaks year-round and there could be multiple waves of virus transmission before achieving herd immunity. Therefore, the public needs to learn to live with it, and continue practising the best prevention measures, including wearing of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and avoidance of gathering.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2021;volume=10;issue=4;spage=1515;epage=1519;aulast=Sharmacoronaviruscovid-19 modelsherd immunitysocial distancing |
| spellingShingle | Neha Sharma Shaili Vyas Archisman Mohapatra Rakhee Khanduri Pritam Roy Raman Kumar Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunity Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care coronavirus covid-19 models herd immunity social distancing |
| title | Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunity |
| title_full | Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunity |
| title_fullStr | Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunity |
| title_short | Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India: Demystifying the concept of herd immunity |
| title_sort | combating covid 19 pandemic in india demystifying the concept of herd immunity |
| topic | coronavirus covid-19 models herd immunity social distancing |
| url | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2021;volume=10;issue=4;spage=1515;epage=1519;aulast=Sharma |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nehasharma combatingcovid19pandemicinindiademystifyingtheconceptofherdimmunity AT shailivyas combatingcovid19pandemicinindiademystifyingtheconceptofherdimmunity AT archismanmohapatra combatingcovid19pandemicinindiademystifyingtheconceptofherdimmunity AT rakheekhanduri combatingcovid19pandemicinindiademystifyingtheconceptofherdimmunity AT pritamroy combatingcovid19pandemicinindiademystifyingtheconceptofherdimmunity AT ramankumar combatingcovid19pandemicinindiademystifyingtheconceptofherdimmunity |