Herd Immunity: Understanding COVID-19

Haley E Randolph; Luis B Barreiro

doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.012

Herd Immunity: Understanding COVID-19

Immunity. 2020 May 19;52(5):737-741. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.012.

Authors

Haley E Randolph¹, Luis B Barreiro²

Affiliations

¹ Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
² Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated disease, COVID-19, has demonstrated the devastating impact of a novel, infectious pathogen on a susceptible population. Here, we explain the basic concepts of herd immunity and discuss its implications in the context of COVID-19.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Basic Reproduction Number
Betacoronavirus / immunology
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
Coronavirus Infections / transmission
Global Health
Humans
Immunity, Herd*
Models, Immunological*
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
SARS-CoV-2
Vaccination
Vaccination Coverage

Grants and funding

R01 GM134376/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States