Trump Administration Plans to Implement ‘Herd Immunity’ as a Solution to COVID-19
After President Trump’s quick recovery from COVID-19, his administration continues to push for herd immunity.
Herd immunity states that if a certain number of people become immune to a disease, its transmission will decrease. This means that despite the scientific proof that backs up social distancing and wearing masks, Trump wants to combat the pandemic that is causing more than a million deaths with a concept that is often only attainable with a vaccine that doesn’t exist yet.
To be clear:
Herd Inmunity is now the official White House strategy.
Herd Immunity =
PoC , Working Class & Seniors Are 100% Expendable. https://t.co/rPXFfTk1WE— (((evan shapiro))) (@eshap) October 15, 2020
Trump later tweeted, “A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday. That means I can’t get it (immune) and can’t give it. Very nice to know!!!” This tweet has since been taken down for “violat[ing] the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19.”
For herd immunity to be successful, 60-70% of the population would have to contract the disease and create antibodies to ward it off, which would result in immunity. This is similar to getting chickenpox because once you’ve had it, you can never get it again, even if you are exposed to it.
‘80+ researchers warn that a so-called #herdimmunity approach to managing #COVID19 is “a dangerous fallacy unsupported by the scientific evidence” – the Lancet https://t.co/TEKd3RrUWw
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) October 15, 2020
The problem with this is we don’t know enough about COVID-19 to be certain that immunity is guaranteed. This is especially dangerous for people with weak immune systems, for example, people who excessively smoke or drink, older adults, and people who have other diseases.
Everyone should continue taking the necessary preventative measures to be on the safe side, such as washing your hands, wearing a mask in public or around others, and social distance. Due to America’s current state, it wouldn’t be safe for people to attempt to practice herd immunity because it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Writer | Tweet me @sapnaamin7
