A high level of “herd immunity” will be necessary to control the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
A high level of “herd immunity” will be necessary to control the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Herd immunity is achieved when a substantial majority of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of the pathogen unlikely. Herd immunity will eventually be achieved by the combination of individuals who recover from active infection, and preventive immunization of unaffected individuals. Because of the extensive morbidity and mortality associated with active infection, preventive vaccination is the preferred strategy.