Accept Herd Immunity Like You Would a New Dance?

— Don’t let Trump dancing fool you!

Rate of Corona Virus survival for elderly is 95%. So that means five out of every 100 grandmas and grandpas who get Covid will die. For the maskless Republican, this means having to buy fewer Christmas gifts, less food on holidays and big-time savings on social security expenditures.

Beyond the death rate, there are proven debilitating after-effects from having the virus. Not only does it wreck havoc on organs and respiratory systems, heart conditions become especially sensitive given that Covid-19 could lead to myocarditis or pericarditis. According to the Center for Disease Control, heart damage could also explain frequently reported long-term symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain and heart palpitations.

One thing can lead to another. Moreover, the Covid-19 virus has mutated forms and it can evolve as it adapts to human hosts. Mutations are nowhere close to being fully understood.

Covid immunity is especially not well-understood. It’s not known how long immunity lasts or how powerful an immunity can become. Additionally, there are reports of people becoming re-infected, including one person in Denmark who recently died from a second infection.

Those who claim why worry since survivability rates are strong, effectively argue for herd immunity.

The fact is herd immunity has never before been used as a public health strategy for responding to a pandemic outbreak. Also, herd immunity is not achieved by allowing and enabling infection only. An effective vaccine has always worked in concert with immunity. But consider that it’s difficult to pull an effective vaccine together on a virus you are still learning about.

Bottom line? Allowing herd immunity for a virus that’s not well understood, and one that has tremendous potential for spreading, is both risky and unethical. The politicians must listen to the medical scientists. If they do not, then say goodbye to lots of grandmas and grandpas and be ready to accept some serious changes during your future holiday settings.