Pune: In the COVID-19 age, the words oral vaccine, medicine, immunity are now being used interchangeably. Coronavirus is said to be unsafe without herd immunity, which is considered as collective immunity if vaccines or drugs are not given early. However, experts say that even if 'herd immunity' is the last resort, as it is not affordable.

Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community that the herd becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected - not just those who are immune.

When a lot of people in a society develop the power to fight against a disease, it is called herd immunity.

As a result, the effect of the disease is reduced and the disease disappears. For that, it needs to be formed in the body of 60 to 70 per cent of the people and it does not need to be created in the body of 100 per cent of the people.

Considering herd immunity, the population of the country is 137 crores or the population of Maharashtra is over 12 crores. If 60 to 70 per cent of the population were to die from corona, at least 3 per cent of them would go from millions to crores.

So, as per the Department of Infectious Diseases, Dr Subhash Salankhe said, "It is impossible for the virus to pass through us without effective medicine or vaccines. An alternative to herd immunity is a vaccine or medicine. However, experts say that the vaccine is not likely to be available until December. Therefore, the chances of this infection increasing are increasing. The number of patients is not likely to stop."

Dr Bharat Purandare, Infectious Diseases Specialist said to Sakal Times, "Herd immunity is a concept that controls communicable diseases. Although it is not affordable, this infection will have to be eradicated gradually through various measures. You want to have a peak in some areas. There are differing opinions as to what percentage of people, such as 40, 60 or 70 per cent, will develop herd immunity when infected. However, when people become infected and the number increases, they will protect others from this infection."

Edited by:
Khevna Pandit