3 ms·
> At the current rate of +50K infections per day, that's 20 days per 1M infections, so we need 20 days * 92 = 5 years before we achieve herd immunity (best case
by ardy42 6y ago
> At the current rate of +50K infections per day, that's 20 days per 1M infections, so we need 20 days * 92 = 5 years before we achieve herd immunity (best case, assuming no vaccines)? That doesn't seem right.
I can't remember exactly where I heard it, but I believe robust herd immunity in human populations has never been achieved for a virus like this without the widespread use of a vaccine. Which makes sense, because there's evolutionary pressure on viruses to adapt, and so many diseases remained endemic and common until vaccines where introduced for them.
Edit: in response to the dead reply: the Spanish Flu didn't disappear. It killed tens of millions (out of a much smaller world population) and persisted for decades as a seasonal flu. IIRC, it didn't get eclipsed by other strains until the 50s.
- anoncake 6y agoIt technically didn't disappear, but mutating to the level of regular seasonal flu is almost as good.
- COVardsStayHome 6y agoSo how did the Spanish Flu disappear?