Is Herd Immunity Against SARS-CoV-2 a Silver Lining?

• Authors: Ramachandran Vignesh, University of Kuala Lumpur; Esaki M. Shankar, Central University of Tamil Nadu; Vijayakumar Velu, Emory University; Sadras Panchatcharam Thyagarajan, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research
• Journal Title: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
• Volume: Volume 11
• Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA | 2020-09-30, Pages 586781-586781
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.586781
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Immunology; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Immunology; herd immunity; coronavirus disease 2019; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; seroprevalence; vaccines; CONVALESCENT PLASMA; CORONAVIRUS; ANTIBODIES; INFECTION; THERAPY; TIME; SARS

Abstract

The emergence of a novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 and its wide global spread has led to millions of infections and substantial morbidity and mortality (1). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection can range from mild self-limiting disease to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death (2). With the WHO having reported 31,174,627 confirmed cases and 962,613 deaths globally as of 22nd September 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to show almost poor indication of abating (3). While the global scientific community is racing against time to strategize combating possibilities, with several vaccine trials, drug discoveries and validations underway, we still need a practical and sustainable solution to face the ongoing threat to global public health.