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Iceland Chief Epidemiologist Admits Natural Infection is the Only Way to Achieve Herd Immunity From COVID-19


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In recent weeks, COVID-19 cases have exploded in the small Nordic nation of Iceland.

Despite over 70% of the entire population being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Iceland has witnessed its largest outbreak this summer.

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In recent weeks, Iceland’s chief epidemiologist suggested tighter restrictions to curb the outbreak.

He advocated for restrictions lasting anywhere from 5-15 years.

But an interesting turn of events has recently occurred in Iceland.

The epidemiologist appeared to concede that the experimental COVID-19 jabs failed to achieve herd immunity for the country.

He suggested that natural infection is the only way to reach that milestone.

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What’s extremely ironic about this admission from Iceland’s chief epidemiologist is he claimed the country reached herd immunity in June 2021.

From Iceland Review:

Iceland has vaccinated enough of its population against COVID-19 to avoid a local epidemic, though group outbreaks could still occur among those who have not received the jab, says Þórólfur Guðnason, the country’s Chief Epidemiologist. Iceland has thus achieved herd immunity, Þórólfur told RÚV, despite having not yet reached authorities’ stated goal of fully vaccinating 75% of the population. Over 52% of Icelandic residents ages 16 and over are fully vaccinated while another 28.8% have received one dose.

With just 15 active cases in the country, Iceland has not reported any new domestic cases of COVID-19 in five days. Þórólfur states that there is reason to further relax social restrictions, which currently limit gatherings to 300 people or less and require mask use for seated events and activities that require contact, such as hairdressing.

Þórólfur says the Icelandic nation has achieved herd immunity to COVID-19, though group outbreaks may still occur. He points out that herd immunity cannot be defined as a specific number, rather the collective immunity within the community that prevents a large epidemic. While 80-100% of older demographics are now fully vaccinated, Þórólfur points out that the rates remain lower among young people and they are therefore still at risk of infection and group outbreaks.

Two months later and the epidemiologist is speaking a different tune.

From Iceland Review:

While data shows vaccination is reducing the rate of serious illness due to COVID-19 in Iceland, the country’s Chief Epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason says it has not led to the herd immunity that experts hoped for. In the past two to three weeks, the Delta variant has outstripped all others in Iceland and it has become clear that vaccinated people can easily contract it as well as spread it to others, Þórólfur stated in a briefing this morning.

The current social restrictions will remain in place until August 13. The Chief Epidemiologist says the government must make the final call on next steps in response to the current wave of infection. Health authorities have sent a formal memorandum to the government expressing concern about the heavy strain on the healthcare system cause by the current record rate of infection.

Vísir also reported:

The epidemiologist believes that now we must try to achieve herd immunity against the coronary virus by letting it continue, but try to prevent serious illness by protecting vulnerable groups. He says the goal at this point cannot be to eradicate the virus from society.

One and a half months after the abolition of all domestic operations, a record number of people have been diagnosed infected in recent weeks, despite the fact that the majority of the population has been vaccinated.

Þórólfur Guðnason said in Sprengisandur in Bylgjan this morning that it is disappointing that herd immunity has not been achieved with vaccination. He says that only one other way is able to achieve herd immunity, to allow the virus to spread throughout the community.

Þórólfur says that he has talked about it since the beginning of the epidemic that the coronary virus mutated. This has now happened with the arrival of the Delta variant across the border.

He says, however, that the vaccination was not in vain. “The vaccination has prevented a serious illness, there is no question about that,” says Þórólfur.

Þórólfur says that it is necessary to respond to how many people become infected after vaccination. “We just need to shuffle the cards and come up with new plans,” he said.

“We really can not do anything else,” says Þórólfur when asked whether the nation of seventy to eighty must be allowed to become infected to achieve herd immunity.

The message seems clear.

Experimental jabs do nothing to prevent contracting and transmitting the virus.

They’re nothing more than a therapeutic at this point.

Despite the admission of the experimental jab’s failure, the epidemiologist still pushes them as the way forward to herd immunity.

Reports indicate he backtracked on his statement regarding natural infection.

Which route do you think Iceland will choose?

Push for more experimental jabs?

Or take the Sweden approach to reach herd immunity?



 

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