Herd immunity, as an alternative to following precautions during a pandemic, happens when enough people get the disease and become immune to stop it from spreading. Most Arizona residents, like people in much of the country, do not have antibodies for the virus yet, and those who do can’t count on how long they will be protected against reinfection. Antibody tests in recent weeks show a statewide positivity rate of about 10%, according to Arizona Department of Health Services data. Regardless of the exact numbers, this means one thing, roughly 90% of Arizonans have not been exposed to the virus, and are therefore vulnerable, says Dr. Janko Nikolich-Zugich, head of the UArizona Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 member.
Related
