There was a great flu epidemic in the world from 1918 into part of 1919. Estimates say that about 50,000 died out of about 10 times that number who caught the flu. Flu is a virus and the word is short for influenza. This is still relevant since even now many people have a flu shot in the autumn or early winter. The formula in the shots is adjusted each year to attempt to have maximum effectiveness. Some people decline to have flu shots and even are reluctant to have the shots considered necessary to provide immunity from typhoid, malaria, and other diseases. I’m fortunate enough never to get the flu so I skip that shot. I will be vaccinated for COVID ASAP.
There are doctors and epidemiologists such as Dr. Anthony Faucci who say that we will reach a level of herd immunity when enough people in the US have been vaccinated. The percentages given for that vary between 60% and 80%. It may take six months or more to arrive at the correct level. There are reasons for skepticism. Assume that that Americans can reach that plateau. Many other nations, especially poorer countries, haven’t even begun to vaccinate. Is it up to richer countries to provide it for them. Will there be a list in the summer of nations where travel to and from is banned due to a high level of contagion? There are herds of elephants in Africa. There are herds of buffalo is several states. There are herds of caribou in Alaska and in the Yukon. Each year on Black Friday there are herds of shoppers cramming into early store openings. People have been injured in the crush.
There was a curator of primates at the London zoo named Desmond Morris. One of the books Morris wrote was called The Human Zoo.
Maybe there is a problem with word usage. Human beings have much bigger brains than any animals. Therefore when talking about people perhaps the phrase mass immunity would be more appropriate than herd immunity. That is true almost all of the time. However it wasn’t true on January 6 when a mob invaded the Capitol Building. Wars have been fought when one nation or race of people regards others as inferior. Then men become more like animals. A human being is a human being. All 7.8 billion matter. The world is infinitely complex. Our new president will face one challenge after another.
Changes with one thing after another will occur.
Deuel Woodward resides in Chula Vista.
