Health Coronavirus: Would herd immunity ever work in Britain? Experts speak out CORONAVIRUS is still dominating the conversation - restricting where people -- -- CORONAVIRUS is still dominating the conversation - restricting where people can go, who they can see and what they can do. As the world sits on the edge of their seat waiting for a vaccine, would herd immunity ever work? By Chanel Georgina -- -- their normal lives. However, could there have been a better way? Could herd immunity have worked more effectively? -- -- In March, there was talk of allowing the virus to "pass through the entire population so that we acquire herd immunity". READ MORE: Donald Trump rushed to hospital by helicopter over -- -- coronavirus Coronavirus: Would herd immunity work? Coronavirus: Would herd immunity work? (Image: Getty) However, this approach was quickly dismissed, with a statement put out -- -- "We have a plan, based on the expertise of world-leading scientists. Herd immunity is not a part of it. "That is a scientific concept, not a goal or a strategy. Our goal is to -- -- Academics from the London School of hygiene and Tropical Medicine noted a "common implication" of herd immunity. -- They identified herd immunity implies "the risk of infection among susceptible individuals in a population is reduced by the presence and proximity of immune individuals". -- -- The Vaccine Knowledge Project at Oxford University explained herd immunity "only works" if the majority of the population has been vaccinated against the disease. -- -- vaccinated against the disease. In addition, herd immunity "does not protect against all vaccine-preventable diseases". -- -- Professor Mark Woolhouse, of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, told the Independent that the concept of herd immunity is "the basis of all vaccination programmes". -- This points towards the idea that herd immunity can only be achieved after a safe and effective vaccine has been rolled out. -- -- Yet, this isn't the case according to Professor Woolhouse, who stated herd immunity can arise naturally. He explained: "If you’ve been exposed to any infection, enough people -- -- * Coronavirus: The full list of COVID-19 signs to watch out for Herd immunity could be effective after vaccinations Herd immunity could be effective after vaccinations (Image: Getty) Why was this idea taken off the table so quickly when the first wave of -- -- Moreover, research is still discovering how long COVID-19 antibodies remain in a person's system, which would be required for immunity. In addition, so many people would have fell ill, and the NHS was -- -- * Coronavirus update: Here's how you can protect your health * Coronavirus update: The COVID-19 vaccine trials are underway * Coronavirus: Long-term immunity against COVID-19 is non-existent Coronavirus