VaccinesHerd immunity — what do critics of mandatory vaccination say about this concept?
Sources: 8 · Article: 9 700 characters
Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi believes that mandatory vaccination of the healthy majority can be justified as a way to protect those at particular risk only if herd immunity is actually possible.
- According to him, this requires a vaccine that reduces infections, but it is difficult to point to convincing examples of this happening in the real world.
- Dr Norman Pieniążek calls herd immunity a fiction in the case of constantly mutating coronaviruses.
- The STOP NOP Association says that reducing the circulation of bacteria can also protect unvaccinated people from infection.
What the authors write
Stowarzyszenie STOP NOP
Reducing the circulation of bacteria can also protect people who have not received a vaccine from infection.
„Conjugate vaccines are very safe and effective even in children from two months of age, and have a clear effect on reducing the level of carriers. This, in turn, reduces the circulation of a given bacterium in the population and therefore leads to so-called herd immunity, which also protects people who have not received the vaccine from infection.”szczepionki koniugowane, są bardzo bezpieczne i skuteczne nawet u dzieci od drugiego miesiąca życia i mają wyraźny wpływ na obniżenie poziomu nosicieli. To z kolei powoduje obniżone krążenie danej bakterii w populacji i z tego powodu wywołuje tzw. odporność stadną (ang. herd immunity), przez co w danej populacji przed zakażeniem chronione są również osoby, które nie przyjęły szczepionki.
Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi
Herd immunity can develop when a sufficiently large proportion of the population is vaccinated, but this requires a vaccine that reduces infections.
„If a high enough proportion of the population has received such a vaccine, then the result should be herd immunity: the likelihood of each case of the infection to spawn another case—the basic reproductive number—will drop below 1, which means that the infection will peter out rather than tear through the entire population.”If a high enough proportion of the population has received such a vaccine, then the result should be herd immunity: the likelihood of each case of the infection to spawn another case—the basic reproductive number—will drop below 1, which means that the infection will peter out rather than tear through the entire population.
Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi
A vaccine that only reduces infections could theoretically lead to herd immunity, but it is difficult to point to convincing examples from the real world.
„In theory, herd immunity is also possible with a vaccine which merely reduces but does not entirely abolish infection in vaccinated people; however, it is difficult to come up with compelling real-world examples. A vaccine that does not suppress infection may still protect from significant clinical disease.”In theory, herd immunity is also possible with a vaccine which merely reduces but does not entirely abolish infection in vaccinated people; however, it is difficult to come up with compelling real-world examples. A vaccine that does not suppress infection may still protect from significant clinical disease.
Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi
Herd immunity can protect unvaccinated people, including those who may be harmed by vaccination.
„An intriguing benefit of herd immunity is that it protects not only the vaccine recipients, but also the non-recipients, including those in whom vaccination is inadvisable, because they are predisposed to adverse reactions to the vaccine. However, it is self-evident that only when herd immunity is actually feasible can a case be made to impose mandatory vaccination on the healthy majority for the sake of protecting the vulnerable few.”An intriguing benefit of herd immunity is that it protects not only the vaccine recipients, but also the non-recipients, including those in whom vaccination is inadvisable, because they are predisposed to adverse reactions to the vaccine. However, it is self-evident that only when herd immunity is actually feasible can a case be made to impose mandatory vaccination on the healthy majority for the sake of protecting the vulnerable few.
Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi
Mandatory vaccination of the healthy majority to protect those at particular risk can be justified only if herd immunity is actually possible.
„An intriguing benefit of herd immunity is that it protects not only the vaccine recipients, but also the non-recipients, including those in whom vaccination is inadvisable, because they are predisposed to adverse reactions to the vaccine. However, it is self-evident that only when herd immunity is actually feasible can a case be made to impose mandatory vaccination on the healthy majority for the sake of protecting the vulnerable few.”An intriguing benefit of herd immunity is that it protects not only the vaccine recipients, but also the non-recipients, including those in whom vaccination is inadvisable, because they are predisposed to adverse reactions to the vaccine. However, it is self-evident that only when herd immunity is actually feasible can a case be made to impose mandatory vaccination on the healthy majority for the sake of protecting the vulnerable few.
Dr Norman Pieniążek
Dr Norman Pieniążek considers herd immunity a fiction in the case of constantly mutating coronaviruses.
„Orthodox immunology was ignored – herd immunity is a fiction given there is a ‘soup’ of constantly mutating coronaviruses.
Why didn’t scientists at the CDC question things early in 2020? Work-from-home restrictions meant that people at CDC couldn’t communicate and coordinate to overturn the madness being imposed from the ‘sixth floor’ top brass.”Orthodox immunology was ignored – herd immunity is a fiction given there is a ‘soup’ of constantly mutating coronaviruses.
Why didn’t scientists at the CDC question things early in 2020? Work-from-home restrictions meant that people at CDC couldn’t communicate and coordinate to overturn the madness being imposed from the ‘sixth floor’ top brass.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 2 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 3 799.
The authors point out that the ambiguous meaning of herd immunity and differences between diseases affect the strength of the argument for mandatory vaccination and coercion.
Aim of the study: The public health benefits of herd immunity are often used as the justification for coercive vaccine policies. Yet, 'herd immunity' as a term has multiple referents, which can result in ambiguity, including regarding its role in ethical arguments.
Results: We argue that the strength of a moral obligation for individuals to contribute to herd immunity through vaccination, and by extension the acceptability of coercion, will depend on how 'herd immunity' is interpreted as well as facts about a given disease or vaccine. Among other things, not all uses of 'herd immunity' are equally valid for all pathogens. The optimal conditions for herd immunity threshold effects, as illustrated by measles, notably do not apply to the many pathogens for which reinfections are ubiquitous (due to waning immunity and/or antigenic variation). For such pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, mass vaccination can only be expected to delay rather than prevent new infections, in which case the obligation to contribute to herd immunity is much weaker, and coercive policies less justifiable.
Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · Wellcome Trust, Moh Foundation
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyother
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Modelling suggests that herd immunity against the Delta and Omicron variants may have been unattainable, although higher vaccination rates could have improved health outcomes.
Aim of the study: Long-term control of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks depends on the widespread coverage of effective vaccines. In Australia, two-dose vaccination coverage of above 90% of the adult population was achieved.
Results: With 90% effectiveness, Delta outbreaks may have been preventable, but not Omicron outbreaks. We also estimated that a decrease in hesitancy from 20% to 14% reduced the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths by over 30%. Overall, we demonstrate that while herd immunity may not be attainable, modest reductions in hesitancy and increases in vaccine uptake may greatly improve health outcomes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Technical challenges of modelling real-life epidemics and examples of overcoming these'.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Health Innovation, Investment and Research Office
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyother
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Herd immunity cannot apply to vaccines which afford protection against bacterial endotoxins and so herd immunity cannot possibly occur with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. The spread of diphtheria has been controlled by isolating sufferers and treating them with antibiotics. Herd immunity is impossible to achieve with influenza vaccine because the flu virus is constantly evolving and changes every year. Herd immunity has not occurred with pneumococcal vaccines because other serotypes (at least 90) have filled the niche evacuated by vaccine serotypes (at least 13).”Herd immunity cannot apply to vaccines which afford protection against bacterial endotoxins and so herd immunity cannot possibly occur with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. The spread of diphtheria has been controlled by isolating sufferers and treating them with antibiotics. Herd immunity is impossible to achieve with influenza vaccine because the flu virus is constantly evolving and changes every year. Herd immunity has not occurred with pneumococcal vaccines because other serotypes (at least 90) have filled the niche evacuated by vaccine serotypes (at least 13).
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Herd Immunity: Mass vaccination creates herd immunity, which reduces the spread of disease and protects individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to underlying medical conditions. Reduction in hospitalizations and medical costs: Disease prevention through vaccination reduces the burden of disease on society, which in turn reduces the need for hospitalizations and the associated cost of healthcare. The known risks of vaccines are: Side effects: As with any medication, vaccines can have adverse side effects.”Herd Immunity: Mass vaccination creates herd immunity, which reduces the spread of disease and protects individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to underlying medical conditions. Reduction in hospitalizations and medical costs: Disease prevention through vaccination reduces the burden of disease on society, which in turn reduces the need for hospitalizations and the associated cost of healthcare. The known risks of vaccines are: Side effects: As with any medication, vaccines can have adverse side effects.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„As noted in almost every page, those behavioral insights are based on MINDSPACE framework that one can find and download for further reading [4] Emphasizing the importance of vaccination to achieve herd immunity as if it is the only way to achieve this goal and ignoring the fact that herd immunity is almost achieved in many spots of the world. It appears this is meant to add pressure while pushing people to take the jab. One can easily grasp that exactly the same behavioral messaging has been used upon the population with lockdowns, PCR testing, mask wearing and social distancing.”As noted in almost every page, those behavioral insights are based on MINDSPACE framework that one can find and download for further reading [4] Emphasizing the importance of vaccination to achieve herd immunity as if it is the only way to achieve this goal and ignoring the fact that herd immunity is almost achieved in many spots of the world. It appears this is meant to add pressure while pushing people to take the jab. One can easily grasp that exactly the same behavioral messaging has been used upon the population with lockdowns, PCR testing, mask wearing and social distancing.
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