By: Cynthia Wang

The COVID-19 pandemic was a tumultuous period full of lockdowns, social distancing, and international trepidation. During this time, however, a theory completely diverging from the traditional approach of containing disease rose to the spotlight. This theory opposed masks, lockdowns, and vaccines as the best preventative measures; instead, it proposed purposefully spreading COVID in order to achieve something called “herd immunity.” How did this seemingly absurd idea become widespread and accepted?

In July 2020, Paul Alexander, an epidemiologist in the Health and Human Services Department during the Trump administration, published the book “We Want Them Infected.” This book advocated for the infection of “low-risk” populations like children and young adults. It argued that if a large segment of the population eventually developed natural immunity to the virus, it would later become difficult for the virus to spread.

The Trump administration, which was attempting to restore the US economy that had been damaged by the pandemic, supported this new theory. Ending lockdowns would allow business to begin running as usual again, thus befitting the economy. As Jonathan Howard, M.D., said, “In 2019 you would have been considered a quack if you suggested that the best way to get rid of a virus is to spread the virus. But that became mainstream and influenced politicians at the highest levels.”

Howard continues, “It’s unbelievable that while doctors like myself were working to treat sick COVID patients, begging people to stay at home and be safe, there was another group of doctors working at cross-currents to us — prominent doctors wanting to purposely infect unvaccinated young people with the promise that herd immunity would arrive in a couple of months.”

There were several key issues with the herd immunity theory that unfortunately resulted in thousands of deaths. First, COVID immunity is not permanent; rather, it weakens over time. Second, herd immunity does not apply to the various COVID variants. Third, any person of any age can experience dire health effects from COVID, not just the elderly or immunocompromised.

In fact, over 1,600 children in the US died from COVID, while more than 14,000 were hospitalized. Innumerable other children likely suffer from long-term detrimental health effects.