By Michelle Delaney
Since March 2020, over 220,000 souls have been lost due to the COVID-19 virus and it is estimated that many more lives will be lost before the end of the pandemic. COVID is a highly contagious virus. President Trump, his wife, young son, and many White House staffers and guests fell ill and tested positive for the virus after a Rose Garden ceremony last month where social distancing and face masks were optional. It’s just one example of how swiftly the virus spreads.
Herd Immunity has been discussed by political leaders but Herd Immunity is not an option for handling the pandemic, says the World Health Organization. The effect of herd immunity would mean a great number of lost lives and economic devastation to our nation.
What is Herd Immunity? Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. There are approximately 226 million people in the United States, and it would take years to achieve immunity. Since approximately 40% of the U.S. population has some sort of medical or age risks, the resulting death rate would be extremely high. Our caregivers and hospitals would be overwhelmed with COVID cases, and our workforce devastated. Herd immunity would cause far more mental and physical pain and suffering than wearing a face mask until a safe vaccine is available.
What You Need To Know: If you decide that herd immunity makes sense, you will need excellent medical coverage and enough money to get through lost time at work and possibly no paycheck for a while. You should also consider the medical side-effects of the virus, and if they will be determined as pre-existing conditions.
It is also important to know that
- It is not known how long someone who had COVID-19 remains immune.
- The lingering side effects of the virus are unknown
- It is not clear but suggested that up to 75% of the population would need to be infected to provide immunity from the virus. (That would take a long time and a lot of heartaches).
After listening to months of alternative facts, conspiracy theories, and erroneous information, it is my personal conclusion that the U.S. population is receiving very negative and harmful subliminal messages basically through social media. We need to get back to normal and out of this ongoing drama and bedlam.
Don’t believe everything you read or hear. Follow logic and common sense. Stay safe and keep your nation safe. We are all in this together.
Until a vaccine is available, Wear a Face Mask, Wash Hands Often, Social Distance and Show you care.
To learn more about Herd Immunity visit MayoClinic and WEBMD
