STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Several studies suggest immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection is far more widespread than anyone imagined, and that the threshold for herd immunity is far lower than previously estimated
- German research shows that even among unexposed individuals, 81% were resistant or immune to SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Common colds caused by the betacoronaviruses OC43 and HKU1 might make you more resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection
- If a majority already have some measure of immunity against COVID-19 due to previous exposure to other coronaviruses, then we’ve probably already reached the threshold for herd immunity and vaccinating every human on the planet is unnecessary
- Several studies suggest the herd immunity threshold is well below 50%, according to one study, as low as 9%. Meanwhile, a mathematical model suggests immunity against SARS-CoV-2, globally, might be as high as 80%
