Possible stupid question - how close to nerd immunity

[Florelei]

I’ve been thinking about this and trying to do some research but I’m still confused.

We have been seeing really high numbers of daily cases for months now and in March we were told that well over 100k people were catching covid per day.

I’ve read over the past few months that (for example) 1 in 70 people currently have covid.

Given these high numbers how many people can realistically be left to be infected? Especially given that up to 1/3 of infections are a symptomatic and at least some people will never get the virus due to natural immunity.

I apologise if this is a stupid question.

Haha this made me LOL

I've signed up for a geek course.

Herd immunity is a technical term meaning that a disease is effectively wiped out because so many people have had it and are immune. That’s probably impossible for Covid for many reasons. Look at chicken pox which provides pretty much permanent immunity and which 90% of people catch as children. The problem is that people keep being born.

However levels of immunity in the population below the herd immunity level should in theory make some impact on R especially if it’s skewed towards people that mix more. I’d make a highish guess of 20% having had it which could in theory make a small impact.

However if you’d asked me this question back in October I’d have hypothesised that the high numbers in London in the first wave were contributing to its lower numbers in the summer and early autumn. That hypothesis has been utterly scuppered by recent events.

DH spent most of the first lockdown building a Scalextric village in the garage, so he should be fine. DD is really into Lego models, so she's probably OK. DSs and I are more lazy fun seekers, so not so good for us. However, we do have Rainman like trivia skills, so maybe??

Due to the diversity of nerds I doubt we could ever gain immunity especially with new strains of startrek and games being released...I've even heard of nerds flocking into areas of everyday things like stones or trains. Luckily they tend to self isolate or gather in groups of other nerds.

Nerds have existed since the dawn of time it's only the internet etc that makes them seem more prevalent than before. If you or your family is effected by nerds their Are ways to manage the condition but currently no cure or immunity.

If you are a nerd, there are many support groups on FB like rise of the nerds etc also for your specific sub genre of nerd. Good luck and live long and prosper

This has just made my day 😂

Am I the only person who actually read the title as 'herd'?

@Consciousdonkey

Nerds gather whatever the conditions. What is the collective noun for nerds do you think? A concentration?

cluster maybe :)

Nerd immunity 😂😂😂😂😂 crying 😂

It's a convention

contention :D

shit.
convention

I've seen an estimate of 20% exposure in London and this was before the latest surge - you need at least 60% before any herd immunity starts to take affect and 90% to fully achieve

It's a planet of the nerds.

The title cheered me up no end as well. I'm still really struggling after ten months of long Covid. So yes, please don't change it.🤣

Look at how Comi-Con has proliferated. Definitely we are still in early phase of the nerd-demic.

Thank you for the best laugh in the last few days!

[quote Porcupineintherough]@Moondust001 that's not true, vaccines are engineered to provoke a strong immune response and can often elicit a better one than the illness itself, especially than a mild case.[/quote]
Actually, quite often natural infection promotes a better response than the vaccine.

Some studies have suggested approximately 65%+ as a herd immunity threshold - this was pre-vaccine. Other studies have found that immunity from infection has lasted 6+ months. There is also evidence of T-cell immunity lasting longer even though antibodies have waned. Rate of asymptomatic infection has been up to 80% in some studies.

What a great typo start to 2021!! Congratulations op!!

I have laughed so much at the title of this thread
Thank you.

I am a nerd and find it insensitive that you suggest people need to be protected from us

This thread is too much 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I fell over this morning. Twice. So now in pain. However, this thread has cheered me right up. Thanks OP

Thank you OP, I really needed this today. It's given me a good laugh.