COVID-19 herd immunity unlikely in 2021 despite vaccine rollout in several nations: WHO
FirstpostScientists estimate that a vaccination rate of about 70% is needed for herd immunity, where entire populations are protected against an infection Geneva: The World Health Organization’s chief scientist warned that even as numerous countries start rolling out vaccination programs to stop COVID-19, herd immunity is highly unlikely this year. “Even as vaccines start protecting the most vulnerable, we’re not going to achieve any levels of population immunity or herd immunity in 2021,” Swaminathan said. “Even if it happens in a couple of pockets, in a few countries, it’s not going to protect people across the world.” Scientists typically estimate that a vaccination rate of about 70 percent is needed for herd immunity, where entire populations are protected against a disease. Aylward said WHO was aiming to have “a rollout plan” detailing which developing countries might start receiving vaccines next month.