WHO calls herd immunity strategy 'unethical'

WHO has said that health officials typically aim to achieve herd immunity — where the entire population is protected from a virus when the majority are immune — by vaccination. The health body noted that to obtain herd immunity from measles, for example, about 95% of the population must be vaccinated.

Geneva: The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against the idea that herd immunity might be a realistic strategy to stop the pandemic, calling such proposals "unethical."

At a news briefing on Monday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said health officials typically aim to achieve herd immunity - where the entire population is protected from a virus when the majority are immune - by vaccination.

Tedros noted that to obtain herd immunity from measles, for example, about 95% of the population must be vaccinated.

"Herd immunity is achieved by protecting people from a virus, not by exposing them to it," he said.

"Never in the history of public health has herd immunity been used as a strategy for responding to an outbreak," he said, calling the strategy "scientifically and ethically problematic."

Tedros said that WHO estimates less than 10% of the population has any immunity to the coronavirus, meaning the vast majority of the world remains susceptible.

Tedros also noted countries had reported record-high daily figures of COVID-19 to the UN health agency for the last four days, citing surges in Europe and the Americas in particular.

AP