Herd immunity is a real phenomenon -- it's the strategic goal behind widespread vaccination, and the reason that vaccination controls disease even if less than

Herd immunity is a real phenomenon -- it's the strategic goal behind widespread vaccination, and the reason that vaccination controls disease even if less than 100% of the population takes the vaccine or gets immunity from it. That said, I think you're right to be skeptical of the "let everyone get it and we'll have natural herd immunity" idea.