How Boris Johnson's 'Herd Immunity' COVID-19 plan puts millions at risk
Written by: Ruhi Rizvi
In recent weeks, the world has been gripped by the deadly Corona Virus (Covid-19). The latest WHO (World Health organisation) situation report states there have been more than 125,000 cases confirmed across the globe, in addition to more than 4,600 deaths.
Prime Ministers, presidents and senators of most countries of the world have taken measures to protect its citizens whilst minimising the spread of the virus. Some leaders have called for the 'lock down' protocol either for the whole country, whilst in other parts of the world only particular states or cities. Schools, and colleges are all closed or set to close for indefinite period of time. Employers have been advised to permit work from home where possible and for those who believe they may be exhibiting some symptoms to self isolate.
In U.K, nearly 2000 patients have tested positive, while 55 people have died. In the past weeks, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his administration have attended emergency ‘Cobra’ meetings with multi professionals and the medical specialist advisory board. They have opted for involves the delay tactic (as in no immediate step being taken to remedy the situation) and briefly touching upon the 'Herd Immunity' agenda. UK’s Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance stated, that he wanted the 60% of the population to catch the Corona virus.
‘Herd Immunity’, by definition is 'a form of resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population, that results if a sufficiently high proportion of individuals are immune to the disease through vaccination'. Hypothetically, by a minimum of 60% of population being either vaccinated or indirectly contracting the virus, the herd immunity would potentially protect the most vulnerable in society; this being the elderly, disabled, pregnant women and babies. However, it is not yet confirmed whether the 60% would be enough to contain the deadly virus.
Historically, UK has faced similar outbreaks of many diseases; some very life threatening. The plague in the 16th and the Small Pox outbreak in the 17th century were devastating; claiming nearly 300 million lives. Essentially, Small Pox was eradicated worldwide following Dr Edward Jenner’s 1796 experiment and his story of the cow with small pox, led to it famously being coined the ‘Herd Immunity’. Edward Jenner discovered that people who consumed milk from a cow exhibiting pus from small pox were recovering from sickness and had become immune to the virus. ‘Herd Immunity’ thereafter, was practiced and vaccines were created. By 1969, the live vaccine program was rolled out across UK and across the world with mandatory policies put in place by Public Health of England and the World health Organisation.
Modern day childhood diseases include, mumps, measles rubella (MMR) and many others, which either requires one lifetime vaccine or a course of vaccinations given over a spaced-out period. Other diseases, for example, chicken pox requires an incubation period depending on severity of the disease and concentration of the live vaccine.
Eradicating the diseases through an immunization program is a public heath focus and agenda. In UK vaccination programmes (which commence shortly after birth periodically up until the teenage years), has been an ongoing measure for the past century. However, the measles vaccine became a matter of contention, controversy and much debate when Doctor Andrew Wakefield’s made the false statement in 2010, that his research had found the MMR vaccine was a contributing factor for children with autism. Just to summarise briefly, the matter was suppressed and the research debunked, after Dr Wakefield was struck off the register and lost his licence to practice. Parents took this information seriously and panic and outrage led to a decline in uptake of vaccinations. Since this debacle, Public Health of England fears the diseases may evolve into an epidemic at some point.
Flu vaccinations in the past decade have been rolled out to front line health professionals, the elderly and the most vulnerable in our society as a repercussion of the swine flu outbreak. While this information may not be significant for some people, it remains a sticking point for many anti vaccine groups across the world. People are skeptical of content of the vaccines just as much as they are to contraindications and quality of health; and have begun to seek alternative medicine.
How and when this herd immunity plan is to go ahead is ‘beggars belief’. The intention has been broadcasted, but further plans are yet to unfold. This plan may be halted just as it was initiated as overview of constant changes in guidelines and advice are observed to be temporary, while figures of deaths.
U.K Prime minister Boris Johnson and Switzerland government have been heavily criticised for not following suit by shutting down schools and large gatherings to prevent the spread of the disease. Lawrence Wong Minister for National Development raised concerns at a press briefing stating, ‘’if there’s no attempt to contain, we estimate the number of cases in these countries to rise significantly in the coming days and weeks”.
People are currently in a shopping frenzy, as most stores are becoming emptied of essential items. Toilet rolls and hand wash are two of the most sold items across UK. Other countries are seeing a similar trend. Unfortunately, this indicates uncertainty and fear from what is to come. Social media outlets are projecting many people’s fear, yet at the same time their outrage is at the steps being taken by the Government in its bid to protect its citizens.
Elderly people above the age of 70 have been advised to self isolate for 4 months and there are many questions as a result of this recommendation, which one may be inclined to ask. How do elderly people who are dependent on social care or by their families become isolated? Isolation poses many issues and risks ranging from incapacity to care for oneself to the onset of depression through loneliness. One would think the Government has thought of every conceivable notion, but has it. There is a growing concern among people that this move is not being taken to prevent the elderly from the virus but to prevent them being a huge burden to the already crippled National Health Service (NHS). Jeremy Warner, assistant editor of the Daily Telegraph pointed out that Covid-19 “might even prove mildly beneficial in the long term by disproportionately culling elderly dependents.”
Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has addressed his concerns in a meeting with Boris Johnson in which he pressed for “support for those affected by Corona virus, including rent deferrals, mortgage holidays, higher statutory sick pay and income protection for insecure, low paid and self employed workers. It’s essential for both public health and social justice”. In a public media Jeremy Corbyn leader of the Labour Party states that “so far the government has been slow to match the scale of the crisis with scale of action that is needed” and goes on to say that, ”the public are looking for answers and support...”
This week schools, colleges remain open and concerts are still scheduled, whilst social distancing is being advised by Public Health of England. There have been several contradictory messages conveyed by the government since the first corona cases came to light. Today in a statement following on from the conference held last night in Liverpool, PM Boris Johnson speaks about his shaking hands with hospital patients. Social media bloggers and activists have continued to seek responses, but mostly have criticised the way that this crises is being handled. One tweet by @timmyvoe reads: “There are far too many who believe the WHO or news articles give a better explanation of what is happening than our own epidemiologists, even though our own epidemiologists understand our unique situation better than anyone on earth” and another by @Navtweeets: “UK is the ONLY country in the world, actually asking their government FOR A #LOCKDOWN!..”
With so many uncertainties unravelling before the British public, how and when this ‘herd immunity’ plan is to go ahead is ‘beggar’s belief’. The intention, nevertheless, has been broadcasted, but further plans are yet to unfold. Since this measure has been discussed behind closed doors and received publically, many professors of epidemiology have expressed their concerns. Dr William Hanage, a professor of the evolution and epidemiology of infection disease at Harvard wrote a piece in response to the herd immunity plan in the guardian that, he thought “it was satire” and goes on to write “that a large proportion of the population is at a lower risk for developing severe disease”.
So it seems that the government may have overreacted very early on with its talks of “herd immunity” plan, but have dismissed the most vital steps from the beginning, which is to promote social distancing with closures of education establishments, banning movement across cities and countries and the importance of hygiene. Time will tell if this plan will come to an abrupt halt, just as it was initiated because in recent days an overview of constant changes in guidelines and advice are observed to be temporary, while there is a continuous rise in spread of the Covid -19 and deaths are occurring at an alarming rate.
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