Whenever I hear the expression "herd immunity", I think of cows, sheep, buffalo, and deer. I wonder if it is a small herd or bid herd. And then I start to consider whether they are free range on a farm or while, like buffalo and deer. I don't think that's where the mind is supposed to go with the expression.
It is also known as 'population immunity'. But we don't hear that expression - the more common one is herd immunity. It definitely is more noticeable.
It turns out the expression did start with cattle and sheep. They were having epidemics of spontaneous miscarriages in the early 1900s. Farmers were destroying or selling affected cows, but veterinarians warned this was the wrong approach. That was in 1916 in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association where "herd immunity" was envisioned. Adoph Eichhorn wrote in 1916 that herd immunity could be achieved.
Sheldon Dudley wrote on the topic in 1923 and his writing is the most extensive on what herd immunity means to humans: “I will now consider the community, or the herd… Nations may be divided into urban or rural herds. Or we can contrast the shoregoing herd with the sailor herd, or herds dwelling in hospitals can be compared with those who live in mental hospitals.”
The Lancet observes: "Dudley's glide from animal to human drew on established British traditions of animal symbolism. As historian Harriet Ritvo argues in The Animal Estate, animals have long served in England as figures for representing national types, lineages, and identities. When Dudley, as surgeon, researcher, and medical administrator, wrote of the “English herd”, he tacitly invoked his own role in a project of national stewardship."
And so “herd immunity” became a fixture of epidemiology by the 1930s. Where does that lead us today? We become familiar with the work and words of 100 years ago. With such a long history, are there any jokes or stories that I have missed?
I found this amusing headline: William Shakespeare Received a COVID Vaccine and Everyone’s Got Jokes: ‘The Taming of the Flu’ - it turns out that the second person in Britain to receive the vaccination was named William Shakespeare. That got my attention after considering names yesterday. Can you imagine the reactions and remarks all through his life?
I didn't find any jokes about herd immunity. I guess it has made it to popular culture just recently as the retrievals are memes. Memes are meant to be a 'bit of humour'. The Memes on herd immunity and vaccinations seem to have bypassed humour, and moved on to opinions.
Cute little Muscari (spellcheck wants it to be Mascara0 or Grape Hyacinths in the front garden this week. Spring's colours are so delightful.
