The United Kingdom’s ‘herd immunity strategy’ to combat COVID-19 has gained renewed attention after its Prime Minister and Health Minister tested positive for the virus.
Assistant Professor Hannah Clapham wrote that herd immunity can be the outcome of a strategy or action, most sensibly, of vaccination. But in UK, herd immunity for COVID-19 has been discussed as the outcome of taking minimal action and letting many in the population get infected.
A key issue in the discussion around this strategy, Dr Clapham noted, is one that has been seen more broadly in the COVID-19 response: Confusion around what a ‘strategy’ is, versus what an action is and even what an outcome is.
In her commentary, she explains that confusion between these terms has serious impact on policymaking around the world. She highlights the differences between outcomes, actions, constraints on these actions and other consequences of these actions.
“Being clear-minded on these is critical in determining and communicating an effective coronavirus strategy,” she wrote.
Read Dr Clapham’s commentary in full here, where she outlines the five things to consider in planning a response to the COVID-19 outbreak: