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Wouldn't that more likely apply in the case where we have significant vaccination rates, but NOT yet at the level of herd immunity? IE, if we're vaccinated to
by alistairSH 5y ago
Wouldn't that more likely apply in the case where we have significant vaccination rates, but NOT yet at the level of herd immunity? IE, if we're vaccinated to the point of herd immunity, this ceases to be a problem? To be otherwise would tend to imply smallpox and other vaccines should already have evolved, no?
- thisiscorrect 5y agoI think you mean "smallpox and other viruses should already have evolved." The difference is that the smallpox vaccine prevented infection of the vaccinated. That's not the case for existing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. https://www.verywellhealth.com/covid-19-vaccines-and-sterilizing-immunity-5092148 https://www.verywellhealth.com/covid-19-vaccines-and-sterili... gives an approachable overview of the difference. Smallpox was eradicated. The likelihood of the same happening to SARS-CoV-2 is lower. At least, it would be the first example of a respiratory infection being eliminated. Influenza hasn't been eradicated and it does continue to evolve. More broadly, the idea of "immune escape" is hardly something I can lay claim to. You can read about it in existing literature.