The current return of university students in the UK is enabling the COVID 19 virus to pass between individuals mixed from right across the UK. Is this an equivalent experience to the chickenpox parties for small children in order for an immune response to develop in the expectation of mild symptoms?
What isn't known is that this may provide immune pressure for virus mutation enabling escape mutants with enhanced strategies to infect humans, also inhibiting the ability to develop an effective vaccine.
Herd immunity level is reported to be lower when immunity is caused by disease spreading than when immunity comes from vaccination.
www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/herd-immunity-threshold-could-be-lower-according-to-new-study
Interesting point here. However I think there is insufficient evidence regarding the effectiveness of her immunity against covid 19.
I think as Michael Halim said there is just insufficient evidence for immunity at this time. Between the longevity of immunity and % of infected people who acquire a sufficient level of immunity, especially in the asymptomatic population there are too many factors.
The idea of a reduced herd immunity threshold is interesting when looking at the social dynamic but we just dont know how it will play out in real time. With an approx 1% mortality and other secondary issues arising post infection allowing a herd immunity to build up via exposure rather than vaccination will have a high human cost to it regardless of the spill over to more at risk populations.
Depending on the society that is likely too much of a cost.
Interesting discussion , It depends on many factors the degree of COVID19 spread among students however if they follow restrict rules of wearing masks and doing other protective actions then the spread of virus as minimum as possible.
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