Coronavirus: fight the virus with "herd immunity"?!

The United Kingdom has announced that it will no longer actively screen for COVID-19 (referred to as Wuhan Pneumonia), and intends to achieve "herd immunity" with large-scale infections. This gambling-like approach has internationally polarized reactions. Both the United States and France have ministers and scholars who think it will work. Chen Xiuxi, deputy dean of the School of Public Health at Taiwan University, yells, "Never!

What is herd immunity?

There are two main ways to obtain herd immunity. One is to inject a vaccine, and the other is to expose most people to the virus and produce antibodies. Wuhan pneumonia currently does not have a vaccine, so there is only the second way. Generally , when the population reaches 60 ~ 70% of the disease, the effect of herd immunity can be achieved.

Chen Xiuxi, deputy dean of the School of Public Health at Taiwan University, has a completely different view, saying that "it is absolutely necessary." The United Kingdom intends to let the "natural selection" rule operate naturally and eliminate those with low immunity. In addition to Chen Xiuxi's objection to causing unnecessary illness and death, in reality, there are at least two major abacus in the UK:

The point is: The new coronavirus that causes Wuhan pneumonia is different from general seasonal influenza. There are some chronic or severe patients. When the virus attacks the lower respiratory tract, not only will it cause pneumonia, but even if it is cured, it may have the sequelae of pulmonary fibrosis like SARS , Affecting the daily ventilation function.

Zhou Baiqian, director of the Department of Thoracic Medicine of Beijing Medical University, said: "If the pulmonary fibrosis is mild, he just feels that his breathing will be a little bit asthma. Once the scope of these fibrosis is too large, he will not even be able to effectively expand the lungs even walking, Causes him to pant when he walks. "

Doctors said that the new coronavirus is not well known to the outside world. Although China, which has the largest number of cases, has published research that it will invade organs such as the heart and kidneys, more evidence is needed; as for the British epidemic prevention, 60% of the population is infected In order to achieve the method of herd immunity, our experts disagree, and believe that there is no scientific basis. Zhou Baiqian pointed out: "At present, it has been challenged because there is no evidence that all people produce antibodies as soon as they are infected, so in this case, it becomes that the entire epidemic will be prolonged."