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beastie boy

(9,237 posts)

21. Herd immunity is a well established scientific term. It does not apply exclusively to humans.

Sun Jan 24, 2021, 05:02 PM

Jan 2021

It has been used for nearly a century, and the meaning of the term is well established. It is not exclusive to humans, and has nothing to do with human dignity. It applies to any living organisms that are capable of transmitting diseases through social interaction and having immune systems capable of developing a natural defense to these diseases when exposed to them. Thus, judging the term from the perspective of human dignity may be a bit deceptive.

What is dangerous is not whether the tern is used in a proper scientific context, but how it is misinterpreted outside of its proper scientific context.

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43 replies

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This message was self-deleted by its author [View all] OhNo-Really Jan 2021 OP

Moo snort Jan 2021 #1

Snort 😂 OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #11

Herd immunity is not a good strategy Mr.Bill Jan 2021 #2

Exactly. Better to err on side of caution OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #8

Yes it does, as does much of the behavior of many humans, elleng Jan 2021 #3

The irony of the term "herd immunity" is that it is very Darwinian Buckeyeblue Jan 2021 #4

Thanks. I missed that irony because OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #6

Community immunity Donkees Jan 2021 #5

Better however it's an unproven theory OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #7

There is herd immunity for the flu Klaralven Jan 2021 #9

It's the Darwinian Phrase "Herd Immunity" OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #12

2a(1): a group of people usually having a common bond, e.g. a herd of tourists Klaralven Jan 2021 #34

Never herd that before. I avoid them. OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #36

Although usually used in the context of hoofed animals, it can refer to any collection of animals Klaralven Jan 2021 #37

And a lot in common with viruses OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #38

Give a virus a billion petri dishes and wait to see what comes out. Chainfire Jan 2021 #10

Exactly. But make sure to move them around OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #15

I don't object to the term "herd immunity." But let's talk about "dehumanizing". gulliver Jan 2021 #13

Very funny. Thank you 😂 OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #17

Herd Immunity is a debunked theory that never could apply to humans. Ford_Prefect Jan 2021 #14

Omg Thank you Ford_Prefect OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #20

no, not perfect by a long shot, that reply is flawed on multiple levels Celerity Jan 2021 #30

Vaccines work via producing herd immunity, & for the umpteenth time, we here in Sweden never had Celerity Jan 2021 #28

I accept your correction about what is and hasn't happened in Sweden. I stand corrected, thank you. Ford_Prefect Jan 2021 #33

Using vaccines to reach herd immunity is a basic, simple scientific concept, but do not take my word Celerity Jan 2021 #35

K&R smirkymonkey Jan 2021 #16

Thank you ☺️ OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #18

People don't understand how it works. Media has failed to inform people how it works. KentuckyWoman Jan 2021 #19

Herd immunity is a well established scientific term. It does not apply exclusively to humans. beastie boy Jan 2021 #21

The WHO on herd immunity: Denzil_DC Jan 2021 #22

Awesome. Thank you. This is perfectly stated OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #23

It HAS been debased by misuse to the point where it probably isn't helpful to use it Denzil_DC Jan 2021 #25

Thank you again. OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #26

I like it. It's catchy and immediately understandable. ananda Jan 2021 #24

It is both, yes. However, it may be misleading OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #27

I think of it as a tongue-in-cheek slap in the face... ananda Jan 2021 #29

I was going to circle back to ask if your OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #31

Lol. ananda Jan 2021 #39

Mine landed on a bad sector last April OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #40

The word vaccine is derived from the Latin word for cow: Vacca LeftInTX Jan 2021 #32

Well that was udderly readiculous OhNo-Really Jan 2021 #42

Coronaviridae are RNA viruses. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2021 #41

Common Cold Caliman73 Jan 2021 #43