"Herd immunity is back" may sound grand but I feel it is unnecessarily provocative and such sentiments won't help to engage in a much needed societal discussion. Incidentally, it is inaccurate.
1/

'Herd immunity' is neither a strategy nor a policy. It simply describes the mechanism by which an epidemic wanes before everyone in a population has been immunised through vaccination or infection. As such, 'herd immunity' is part and parcel of any vaccination campaign.
2/
It is fairly unlikely we'll have 'infection blocking' vaccines available for everyone in the near future. This is even true for the richest nations on earth. This has been acknowledged by the UK government, which doesn't plan to vaccinate most of its population.
3/
As #COVID19 won't be eradicated any time soon, the question is what is the best strategy to minimise morbidity and mortality whilst controlling #COVID19. Those fall in a continuum ranging from indefinite suppression (Zero COVID) to preferential shielding of the most at risk.
4/
How to deal with #COVID19 is a complex question that has no unique answer, only painful tradeoffs. Using inflammatory language, politicising and demonising those who disagree with us on the best strategy to reduce harm and deaths is, I believe, unhelpful.
5/

More from Society

The UN just voted to condemn Israel 9 times, and the rest of the world 0.

View the resolutions and voting results here:

The resolution titled "The occupied Syrian Golan," which condemns Israel for "repressive measures" against Syrian citizens in the Golan Heights, was adopted by a vote of 151 - 2 - 14.

Israel and the U.S. voted 'No'
https://t.co/HoO7oz0dwr


The resolution titled "Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people..." was adopted by a vote of 153 - 6 - 9.

Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and the U.S. voted 'No' https://t.co/1Ntpi7Vqab


The resolution titled "Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan" was adopted by a vote of 153 – 5 – 10.

Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and the U.S. voted 'No'
https://t.co/REumYgyRuF


The resolution titled "Applicability of the Geneva Convention... to the
Occupied Palestinian Territory..." was adopted by a vote of 154 - 5 - 8.

Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and the U.S. voted 'No'
https://t.co/xDAeS9K1kW

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This is NONSENSE. The people who take photos with their books on instagram are known to be voracious readers who graciously take time to review books and recommend them to their followers. Part of their medium is to take elaborate, beautiful photos of books. Die mad, Guardian.


THEY DO READ THEM, YOU JUDGY, RACOON-PICKED TRASH BIN


If you come for Bookstagram, i will fight you.

In appreciation, here are some of my favourite bookstagrams of my books: (photos by lit_nerd37, mybookacademy, bookswrotemystory, and scorpio_books)