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Herd immunity is disease specific and there is no vaccine induced herd immunity for influenza [1]. In your particular case unless you are working with seriously
by danieltillett 9y ago
Herd immunity is disease specific and there is no vaccine induced herd immunity for influenza [1]. In your particular case unless you are working with seriously ill (or old people) you are only endangering yourself by not getting vaccinated. For other diseases like pertussis herd immunity is critical to their success.
1. We actually do have an influenza vaccine that would provide herd immunity protection, but our regulatory system is so stuffed that it will never reach the market - this is another rant though.
- Mz 9y agoI am not endangering myself. As I said above, I haven't had the flu in many years. That is prejudice and assumption talking. I do remote work. Because of my genetic disorder, I have arranged my life to be able to avoid exposure to infection. The need for herd immunity is posited on the premise that people have no choice but to be crammed together with large groups of unrelated people at school, work, etc. This is a) a very modern idea that did not exist all that long ago and b) not actually a given.
- krapp 9y agoUnless you're suggesting that we all leave the cities and return to nature, it is actually a given for a lot of people.
- Mz 9y agoRemote work is increasingly popular. I pursue it for reasons of germ control, but lots of people prefer remote work for various reasons. It isn't a given. I spend my days in a large city. I just have freedom to get up and walk away from people coughing and sniffling, an option I did not have at my corporate job.