Would you volunteer to be infected?

[epythymy]

I have been giving this some thought. If the only way to beat the virus is to achieve herd immunity sooner or later, could the younger, healthier population of the country voluntarily become infected in order to protect older and more vulnerable people? I believe this was a method the Chinese used for smallpox before there was a vaccine.

If you're young, fit and well, would you volunteer yourself?

This is hypothetical, I realise it's not something that would happen.

If it was guaranteed to get rid of coronavirus and all restrictions, I’d certainly think very hard about it.

In reality though there aren’t enough low risk people for that to work even if they all agreed (ethnically I’m not sure children could be “volunteered” by their parents) and despite volunteers being low risk if done at any kind of speed it would probably tip over the nhs/result in too many essential people off work.

I've been willing to carry on as normal - the REAL normal - and risk being infected as part of life in general, and have been since the beginning.

I think way, way more people than those who are terrified would believe, would have been willing to do the same.

We just weren't allowed to.

Would I, now, volunteer to be deliberately infected?
No. I've lost so much faith in my fellow humans that I've stopped caring about them enough to want to do things like that.

@Triangularbubble

If it was guaranteed to get rid of coronavirus and all restrictions, I’d certainly think very hard about it.

In reality though there aren’t enough low risk people for that to work even if they all agreed (ethnically I’m not sure children could be “volunteered” by their parents) and despite volunteers being low risk if done at any kind of speed it would probably tip over the nhs/result in too many essential people off work.

I agree, it's totally impractical and I don't think children could be volunteered. Perhaps open to anyone under 65 with no underlying conditions but over 18. Health check before hand. Perhaps not all at once, either. As you say, to protect the NHS (although it seems that younger people are less likely to need nhs care).

Small viral lodes, ideally from asymptomatic people...

I think I'd do it! I've talked myself into it.
Particularly as I increasingly don't believe that we'll be able to "suppress" the virus into extinction globally. I think herd immunity (or a vaccine which is herd immunity) is the only way to go... it'd be the best way to save lives.

@BigglesLiesAgain

I've been willing to carry on as normal - the REAL normal - and risk being infected as part of life in general, and have been since the beginning.

I think way, way more people than those who are terrified would believe, would have been willing to do the same.

We just weren't allowed to.

Would I, now, volunteer to be deliberately infected?
No. I've lost so much faith in my fellow humans that I've stopped caring about them enough to want to do things like that.

This is such a shame to read Biggles. Although I can see where you're coming from.

I too would be happy enough to resume normal life and risk herd immunity as someone who is fit and well. However, perhaps there could be a "better" way. For example, I come into contact with elderly and vulnerable people through work, so perhaps it would be better if I didn't contract the virus or did so in a controlled way.

yes I would volunteer. I'm not "young" either.
Back in March, almost everyone in my office up to our elbows in biology degrees was saying we would volunteer for this.

Ah yes - if I were in the same position of having to care for older or vulnerable people, I'd have been willing to be infected deliberately right at the beginning so that I would be (hopefully) immune.

There is still a question around whether you get any immunity and how long it lasts... unfortunately herd immunity may not be possible without vaccination.
If it could though then I would definitely seriously consider it!

Male
Asian
Type one diabetic
20% spleen function

No!

@RoseTintedAtuin

There is still a question around whether you get any immunity and how long it lasts... unfortunately herd immunity may not be possible without vaccination. If it could though then I would definitely seriously consider it!

This is true. My worry though is that if immunity is fleeting we're risking elderly and vulnerable people dying in several waves whereas if we were all exposed to it over a relatively short time frame there would be nobody new to infect due to the temporary immunity. Then it would be an issue of closing borders, quarantining new arrivals etc until we know whether or not the immunity lasts.

Initially the virus was said to be so dangerous due to being new and immune systems not having come into contact with it yet. Perhaps with reinfection the disease wouldn't be nearly as bad. There's also no evidence at the moment to suggest reinfection is possible.

Yes.

But as everyone knows, this goes every ethical code that exists to protect us.

@BigglesLiesAgain

I've been willing to carry on as normal - the REAL normal - and risk being infected as part of life in general, and have been since the beginning.

I think way, way more people than those who are terrified would believe, would have been willing to do the same.

We just weren't allowed to.

Would I, now, volunteer to be deliberately infected?
No. I've lost so much faith in my fellow humans that I've stopped caring about them enough to want to do things like that.

You are not alone.

No, not after seeing the behaviour of others. Not worth the sacrifice when many others don’t see the big picture and just do what they want.

No I wouldn't. I'm not particularly worried about it for myself and am trying to get back to some sort of normal but would prefer not to catch it.

I would.

What @BigglesLiesAgain said, same here.

Nope. I'm fat and over 40 so according to some reports I should have to stay indoors anyway. (Most reports have been over 50 but I read one saying it should be extended to over 40s)

Well the scientists keep banging on about suppression. Cos that's working out so well. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So yes, I think we should shield the vulnerable and the rest of us get on with life.

My 65 year old DH has already said he'll be ignoring any 'stay at home' guidance and I'll be doing the same if they lower the age, although surely they wouldn't go as far as 40! I won't volunteer to get infected but I don't want to live in fear either.

@Moondust001

Well the scientists keep banging on about suppression. Cos that's working out so well. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So yes, I think we should shield the vulnerable and the rest of us get on with life.

Just curious whether you mean the extremely clinically vulnerable (those that have already been shielding for months and would almost certainly die if they caught CV) or the ECV and the clinically vulnerable (those with underlying conditions of varying degrees but not severe enough to shield and who were advised to ensure they were strict with social distancing etc) who would likely not fair great if they were to be exposed, possibly die, possibly face life long disabilities and illnesses associated with their infection as their cases would likely not be mild (which btw isn't necessarily what you would think of as mild, mild when referring to covid cases can be pretty rough and long lasting)?

So, anyway back to my question; just wondering if you mean the clinically vulnerable that they should just get on with life and not worry about catching covid...?

Yes - because I’ve had it. 44 bmi 52. Had high blood pressure all my adult life (even when thin which I was). Diabetes run in the family even for thin people. Guess what, was a lot easier than the swine flu I had a decade ago.

Oh - and DH had it - 60, bmi 42, high blood pressure, diabetic - had 24 hours of wheezing and that was all

So yes - is volunteer again tomorrow since even if we don’t have antibodies we have memory T cells

Oh - and I always thought we should carry on as the real normal from day one

I 109% believe that if this was 1980s before 24/7 media and social media - it would be a bad flu year

Oh and in response to the OPs question, no I wouldn't volunteer to purposely become infected whilst there is no certain treatment, I have volunteered for the vaccine trials though.

For those who are saying how long does immunity last?

Antibodies don’t last in many cases but memory T cells retain the ability to recreate them

Which is why in MOST CASES you are either immune or if you do get it again it’s a lot milder because the T cells kick in

You do realise there are clinical research companies that test medications, viruses, procedures, devices on people all the time? Depending on what research phase they are in, determines how strict they are in picking only fit, healthy people. They are highly regulated & to pass an ethics board and be as safe as reasonably posssible, based on the evidence they have. People, especially in early phase, are also paid for their time, and in some cases we are talking several thousand pounds.

Covid trials will be no different. At this stage, they wouldnt allow anyone high risk to be on a trial and the selection criteria to take part would be extremely stringent.

The vax they are talking about deliberate infection afterwards to test it.
Like pp i would prefer to test a vax but have several underlying issues