Health The problem with using herd immunity to fight coronavirus -- The UK's Nudge Unit and Dominic Cummings are weighing up herd immunity as a possible endgame for coronavirus, but the consequences could be severe -- -- But now people involved in the government’s coronavirus response appear to be mooting a new strategy: herd immunity. On March 11, David Halpern – chief executive of the government-owned Behavioural Insights Team and a member of the the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies – spoke -- -- to BBC News outlining an approach that depended on shielding vulnerable people until enough of the UK population had been infected with Covid-19 that acquired immunity stopped its spread altogether. Advertisement -- -- On the ITV website, Robert Peston referred to the same idea, writing that the strategy of the British government “is to allow the virus to pass through the entire population so that we acquire herd immunity”. So how does the concept work? People can gain immunity to diseases after being exposed to them, and once enough people are immune to a disease – either through exposure or vaccines – it will stop -- -- after being exposed to them, and once enough people are immune to a disease – either through exposure or vaccines – it will stop circulating within a population. That's herd immunity. In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media -- -- early to know whether that has stopped the spread of the disease there. We contacted the Department of Health and Social Care to clarify whether herd immunity was part of the government's official coronavirus strategy, but it did not respond in time for publication. -- -- strategy, but it did not respond in time for publication. But how would herd immunity work in the UK if it is adopted? Roughly-speaking – given what we know about the current infection rate of Covid-19 – the disease would need to infect approximately half of -- -- Roughly-speaking – given what we know about the current infection rate of Covid-19 – the disease would need to infect approximately half of the UK population until we achieved herd immunity. Although over 80 per cent of Covid-19 infections are mild – that’d add up to more than six million people at risk of severe symptoms. And according to a Chinese -- -- Advertisement The problem is that embracing herd immunity could well put the NHS under immense strain – depending on how well we were able to shield vulnerable people from the disease. Jeremy Rossman, a virologist at the -- -- under immense strain – depending on how well we were able to shield vulnerable people from the disease. Jeremy Rossman, a virologist at the University of Kent, isn’t convinced that accepting herd immunity is inevitable. “I think it’s very likely that with continued containment and delay strategies we will be able to stop the virus spread well -- -- enacted.” The example of other countries suggests that herd immunity might not be the only ending point of the coronavirus outbreak. In South Korea, which recorded 851 new cases in a single day at its peak, the outbreak -- -- Although the UK government is now moving to the 'delay’ phase’ of its Covid-19 plan, it’s not clear what role herd immunity will play in this. What we do know is that it is a keen interest of both the Behavioural Insights Team (the so-called “Nudge Unit”) and Boris -- -- + 13 Mar 2020 * A fifth confirmed Covid reinfection is a big blow for herd immunity -- A fifth confirmed Covid reinfection is a big blow for herd immunity ______________________________________________________________ -- -- * * Immunity passports aren’t a good way out of the coronavirus crisis -- Immunity passports aren’t a good way out of the coronavirus crisis ______________________________________________________________