The Washington Post: The Idea of Herd Immunity to Manage the Coronavirus Should Ring Alarm Bells
Institute fellow Rebecca Kaplan explains the concept’s origins in veterinary medicine.
“While herd immunity is the theory behind vaccine programs, the concept originated in veterinary medicine and livestock management in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” says Rebecca Kaplan, a historian of medicine and public health who is the Institute’s current postdoctoral fellow in residence. “This matters because in this setting, economics rather than ethics served as a guiding force.”
More News
Science History Institute Launches New Season of ‘Distillations’ Podcast
American Vice takes listeners from cigarettes and alcohol, to fireworks and LSD with weekly episodes starting September 15.
Explore the Alchemist’s Laboratory with Institute’s New ‘Fire and Gold’ Exhibition Opening October 7
Paintings and rare books from the 15th to the 19th centuries highlight the art, science, and history of alchemy.
Group Tours Are Now Free at the Science History Institute
Kick off the new school year with a guided museum tour, self-guided field trip, or virtual program for middle school, high school, and college students.