Global COVID-19 herd immunity is unlikely to be achieved this year – even as countries race to administer vaccines, the World Health Organization chief scientist warned this week.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said on Monday it is critical that countries continue to socially distance themselves and encourage other public health measures for the foreseeable future.
“Even as vaccines begin to protect the most vulnerable, we will not achieve a level of population or herd immunity in 2021,” Swaminathan said at a news conference.
“Even if it happens in a few pockets, in a few countries, it won’t protect people all over the world.”
Experts estimate that about 70 percent of people must be vaccinated to achieve immunity to the herd.
Great Britain, the US, France, Canada, Germany, Israel and the Netherlands are among the countries that have already launched vaccination programs.
But many developing countries have not yet received shots, which were usually picked up by wealthier nations.
Dr. Bruce Aylward, an adviser to the WHO Director-General, urged the world community to do more to ensure that poorer countries also get the vaccine.
“We can’t do that alone,” Aylward said of the UN agency’s efforts to ensure that more vulnerable regions have access to the footage.
With pole wires