Prognosis
Discord Over Vaccines, ‘Herd Immunity’ Converges With Virus Rebound
- Surge in Covid-19 cases is greeted by deepening polarization
- Conservatives embrace herd idea; others balk at speedy shots
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Public skepticism about coronavirus vaccines and enthusiasm on the right for so-called herd immunity are colliding as the U.S. outbreak is worsening, developments that could dash hopes for containing Covid-19 in the months ahead.
Herd immunity aims instead to expose more people to the coronavirus, to build protection broadly in the population. It’s been roundly denounced by mainstream experts, who say it promises still more sickness and death. Still, the concept has surfaced in the White House, due to the increasing influence of Trump medical advisor Scott Atlas. It was backed this month by a group of academics in a treatise titled the Great Barrington Declaration.