Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at Edinburgh University, believes ‘we’re pretty close’ to hitting the key threshold The UK may be within touching distance of finally reaching herd immunity against Covid, according to one of No10’s top scientific advisers. Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at Edinburgh University, believes ‘we’re pretty close’ to hitting the key threshold. But he warned the UK would ‘bounce around’ and dip below the marker throughout the winter, when another resurgence is expected. Herd immunity refers to having such a high proportion of a population protected that a pathogen finds it difficult to spread. But it’s not a simple ‘all-or-nothing’ concept, according to Professor Woolhouse, who sits on a modelling sub-committee of SAGE. And because immunity can fade over time, many other experts believe achieving a true constant state of herd immunity will be impossible. Other leading virologists believe the coronavirus will never be eradicated and will instead become endemic, meaning it will circulate for generations. They say people will gradually build-up immunity through repeated vaccinations and natural infection. As a result, symptoms of the virus will eventually resemble that of a common cold. Asked about how far away Britain was from achieving herd immunity, Professor… Read full this story
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