Coronavirus antibody research undermines herd immunity expectations
A large-scale study conducted in Spain, one of the countries most affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, revealed that the Spanish people are far from the process of “herd immunity” against the new type of coronavirus.
In the study, partly financed by the Spanish Ministry of Health, with more than 61,000 people participating, it was understood that only 5 percent of the participants developed antibodies against coronavirus.
The study also revealed that about a third of the participants were asymptomatic, that is, they did not show symptoms despite being infected with the virus. Researchers pointed out that asymptomatic cases have important public health consequences.
It is not yet known whether those who have caught coronavirus but did not develop antibodies will re-become infected.
What is herd immunity?
According to the results obtained, the researchers say that herd immunity may not occur without considering the high mortality rate and the risk of exceeding the capacity of health systems. The results indicate that observing the social distance rules, and the insulation and insulation is still the best method in combating the pandemic.
Herd immunity means that the spread of the virus stops, when enough people in the community are infected or vaccinated and become immune. In order for herd immunity to take place, an average of 80 percent of the society must be immune to the virus.
According to some experts, 60 percent may be enough for herd immunity. However, the research that started in Spain in April shows that the immunity rate in the society is far behind these figures. The study, published in the journal Lancet Journal, is the largest study in Europe to detect immunity.
With a population of approximately 46 million, Spain is one of the worst affected countries in Europe and the world with the number of 300 thousand cases. More than 28 thousand people died in the country due to the epidemic.
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