I am an immunologist and have worked on T-cells half my life. In this thread I will present a rebuttal that will hopefully encourage more debate.

The idea that herd immunity can be achieved by 10-20% infected/vaccinated people is itself wrong and deeply flawed. 1/n https://twitter.com/JamesTodaroMD/status/1292873236716433416">https://twitter.com/JamesToda...
2/n If 10% people have protective immunity, how can they protect rest 90%? Statistical analysis shows that when ~ 70% people are immune, the probability of getting the disease in a given community plummets but still is not foolproof.

Dangerous to assume otherwise.
3/n Yes, previous corona exposure will generate T cell response But (i) how many are previously infected? (ii) Are there cross reactive T cells/common antigen? (iii) If so what is their antigen specificity? (iv) NO evidence thus far that "past-corona" T cells are protective now.
4/n Mumbai shows 50% population have antibodies. But if herd immunity achieved is by only 10-20% immune population, we should have seen only few or none having the disease. In reality, positive cases are shooting up massively.
5/n Similarly in Delhi, 23% population has antibodies. By the way, those who have antibodies will also have T cells, at least Th (CD4+) cells.

Also, in almost every case of viral infection where antibodies are produced, cytotoxic T (Tc) cells are also induced!
6/n Cell paper claims 40-60% popln have T cells that are cross reactive to SARS-CoV-2. ANY evidence these T cells are protective? NO.

Even if you say they are protective, they may protect these individuals. But where is the herd immunity? CoVID continues to infect, cause havoc.
7/n I presume you are referring PCR positive cases. Argument doesn& #39;t hold. If these people had the "vaccine effect", one would not have seen any virus. These people would have shown antibodies/ T cell responses but not live virus. https://twitter.com/JamesTodaroMD/status/1292873244236820481?s=20">https://twitter.com/JamesToda...
8/n I lived in New York for 13 yrs, flu seasons affected everyone. If common cold "corona" immunity would have protected, NY wouldn& #39;t be so hard hit.

Heath care systems, discipline, population density helped Sweden and NOT ~20% infection-achieved herd immunity.
9/9 Remember - Those having antibodies also have T cells, at least Th (CD4+) cells and in almost every case of viral infection where antibodies are produced cytotoxic T (Tc) cells are also induced.

If 20% have antibody immunity, it DOESN& #39;T mean that 50-60% have T-cell immunity!
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