Focus protection on the vulnerable FOR HERD IMMUNITY

SIGNATORY AND ACADEMIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

THERE is no doubt that Covid-19 kills people – mostly the elderly, those with underlying health conditions and, disproportionately, men such as myself.

There is also no doubt that for others, Covid-19 can lead to lasting adverse health conditions of varying duration and severity.

But for the vast majority, especially those under 60, Covid-19 is not something to fear.

Young adults and children are far more likely to die from traffic accidents, suicide or cancers.

But there is also no doubt the authoritarian Covid-19 policy measures pursued by many governments, like in the UK, are imposing huge damaging short and long-term impacts on the physical and mental health of the population.

These include lower childhood vaccination rates, worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health. Sociallydisadvantaged and younger people carry the heaviest burden of the current policy regime.

The Barrington Declaration calls for a different approach, called focused protection.

Adopting measures to protect the vulnerable should be the central aim of public health responses. It recognises that elimination of

Covid-19 is not a practical objective. It recognises that vaccines will never be fully effective and many will choose not to receive a vaccine.

In any case, vaccines will deliver their benefits too late to prevent the enormous harms now being caused to society that the present UK Government policy is perpetuating.

In contrast, focused protection balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity. It does not seek to eliminate Covid-19 from society.

Instead, it delivers a targeted way of maximising the overall physical, mental and emotional health of the population at large.

It allows those at minimal risk of death or serious illness from Covid to live normally, and build immunity through natural infection. Simple hygiene measures should be practised by all to reduce the herd immunity threshold.

At the same time, focused protection is targeted at better protecting those at highest risk, like those in care homes and in hospitals.

A total national lockdown may have been justified back in March. Continuing such authoritarian measures seven months later, when we know so much more about the nature of Covid risk, will seriously damage the social fabric and public health of the nation.