Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => COVID-19 => Topic started by: melaniejs on 24/03/2020 10:35:43

Title: Should young people be encouraged to get the virus to protect the vulnerable?
Post by: melaniejs on 24/03/2020 10:35:43

Mark is thinking about how the current pandemic is being referred to as the biggest threat to society since the World Wars and asks:

Is there a way to actually encourage large numbers of people who are less susceptible to die from the virus (younger people without underlying health issues), to contract the disease?

A question about how perhaps the herd immunity strategy should not be forgotten.

Anyone have thoughts?

Title: Re: Should young people be encouraged to get the virus to protect the vulnerable?
Post by: Colin2B on 24/03/2020 14:16:18

I think many youngsters are already doing that, possibly because the press are saying it is mild for most and particularly the young, also look at the experience of Tom Hanks which was widely publicised.
However, there are reports coming out of healthy young people surviving, but needing to be on a respirator in order to do so. That means it can be very serious for some. Currently there are no clear statistics, but one suggestion is that 1 in 7 might need respirator assistance to survive. Also we don’t know the long term health effects of having that degree of illness, but for some it could have permanent effects.
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend anyone get the illness during a period when the health service is under severe stress.