https://www.sciencenews.

org/article/coronavirus-herd-immunity-immune-response-antibodies

Summary:

Since Donald Trump’s claim of having immunity to the disease COVID-19 and there have been
reports of people getting said disease twice, scientists have been thinking how far does this
immunity go. There have been debates about herd immunity which is the point one reaches when
they are immune to a pathogen to slow its spread. While herd immunity might put the end of the
pandemic in sight, experts estimate that around 40 to 60 percent of a population would need to be
infected to reach it. However, scientists can’t say how long their immunity will last wafted
they’ve recovered form an illness. If immunity wanes quickly, that sets the stage for recurrent
outbreaks unless there’s a vaccine, the authors say. Immunity, to scientists, mean resistance to an
infection or virus but at the same time it doesn’t mean you won’t be completely immune from
said virus. This immunity is developed by the memory T cells that provide a rapid response to
combat the virus and B cells that provide antibodies to combat the virus to fight off a specific
pathogen. One type of immunity called sterilizing immunity which doesn’t allow the virus to
manifest itself in anyway, however it is hard to achieve. People tend to have partial immunity
more often which may make the second bout of the disease less severe, or less easily transmitted
to others. It is unclear what type of immunity people with COVID-19 have. While sometimes for
certain diseases antibodies may last a lifetime, it is unsure if they last as long with the new
SARS-CoV-2 it is uncertain whether the presence of antibodies is effective against the virus.
Neutralizing antibodies are ones that halt the virus in its tracks, stopping it from infecting a host
cell and replicating which is what the scientists are investigating to determine how can a person
be immune. Researchers found out the majority of people do generate neutralizing antibodies
but it is still unknown how many neutralizing antibodies are needed to be immune.
And even if they are protective, it’s unclear how long these immune proteins stick around. Data
shows that the immune system does not remember how to combat the COVID-19 because of
this, antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 may not last long. Most people who get infected by Covid-19
have an immune respond related to the T cells but they are not entirely protective of the virus.
However they do memorize some of the virus and it simply develops as symptoms of the
common cold. While there have been cases of people being infected twice with the COVID-19
virus it is unclear how common these reinfections are since at the moment it is kind of rare and it
is hard to prove if someone has been reinfected. The article finishes with the statement of herd
immunity not being the answer to stop the global pandemic of Covid-19. Doing so, would end in
thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Effect:

This article helps in understanding a little more about the global pandemic we are facing at the
moment. It serves as relatable information on how people can avoid getting infected with the
virus as it informs about how your own antibodies are unreliable so it will inspired people to take
precautions to not get infected.

Opinion:
The herd immunity is an interesting concept however I feel it is dangerous to rely on since so
little is known about it. What this article shows is that since antibodies are unreliable in
combating the virus then it just shows how dangerous it is in reality.

Questions:

1. Does the virus get significantly more contagious if you get infected a second time?
2. Are there any other possible ways to have herd immunity?
3. How long does it take to develop a vaccine that helps combating the virus?