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.

October 30, 2020

“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.”

Read more in The Washington Post >>

More News

screenshot of the Institute's homepage
news

Sciencehistory.org Is 2024 Webby Honoree

Institute’s website recognized by the 28th Annual Webby Awards as one of the best of the internet in the science category.

colorful pair of eclipse glasses on a table in the museum gallery
news

Get Ready for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse with Free Science History Institute Glasses

Visit our museum for your very own pair of eclipse glasses to view the highly anticipated celestial event on April 8.

overhead view of museum displays
news

Science History Institute Is ‘Best-Kept Secret’ Finalist in Visit Philly’s Inaugural Liberty Bell Awards

Help us win by voting once a day now through March 14, 2024.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.