The World Health Organization said on Monday that even with the widespread implementation of vaccination programs, herd immunity will not be achieved in 2021.
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist of the health body, spoke at a press conference and urged people to renounce strict social distance for the rest of the year as it will take a while to build up immunity.
“Even if vaccines start to protect the most vulnerable, we are not going to reach any levels of population immunity or herd immunity in 2021,” Swaminathan said. “Even if it happens in a few pockets, in a few countries, it will not protect people around the world.”
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“The vaccines are going to come,” she continues. “They go to all countries … but in the meantime we must not forget that there are [public health] measures that work. “
These measures include social removal, wearing masks and proper hygiene.
Herd immunity – usually obtained by vaccination – occurs when enough people in the population have the antibodies needed to prevent infection and thus prevent its spread. Experts estimate that it will take about 75% of the population to achieve herd immunity.
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Dr Bruce Aylward, an adviser to the WHO Director – General, called on the global community to ensure that all countries have access to vaccines.
He added that the UN’s health agency hopes that vaccination against coronavirus can start this month or next month in some of the world’s poorer countries.
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“We can not do it on our own,” Aylward said.
Fox News’ Madeline Farber and Associated Press contributed to this report