'Herd immunity is a myth in the context of Covid,' James O'Brien warns caller

14 October 2020, 14:50

"Herd immunity is a myth in the context of Covid"

By Sam Sholli

This the moment a caller and James O'Brien disagreed over the concept of "herd immunity" as the UK continues to face the Covid crisis.

David from Paddington called LBC a day after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for a two to three-week "circuit break" national lockdown in response to the Prime Minister rejecting the request from his top scientists.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has introduced a new three tier lockdown system in a bid to tackle local outbreaks of coronavirus.

"We must get a herd immunity, surely," David told LBC's James O'Brien.

However, James disagreed with the caller and responded: "There's no such thing. We haven't even got herd immunity for the flu."

Health Secretary: Herd immunity is a flawed goal without a vaccine

He added: "Herd immunity is a myth in the context of coronavirus and Covid. We're just hearing about people dying, having been infected for a second time in today's news. There [are] too many unknowns."

James then told David that it would have been preferable if the phrase "herd immunity" had "never entered the public vocabulary" in the context of the Covid crisis.

"You can't endorse something unless you can prove it exists," he said.

James O'Brien brands Covid deniers 'absolute clowns'

Although David said the Prime Minister's current response to the pandemic was "relatively measured", James made clear his dissatisfaction with the Government's latest proposals.

James said: "The current proposals are less than the lockdown which, for all its myriad faults, did take a massive chunk out of the speed and the spread of infection.

"So we're going to do less than we were doing when it was over 1,000 [deaths] a day and hope that it goes better."

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

Fishing Industry Consultant debunks 'complete lies' about water pollution

Fishing industry consultant tells James O'Brien we were 'lied to' about water pollution

James O'Brien callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien's callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien is joined by Sadiq Khan to take your calls

Speak to Sadiq: Mayor of London joins James O'Brien to take your calls

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform

'They've alienated every single subsection of society'

Caller Phil ruthlessly describes a Labour Party that 'doesn't appeal to anyone'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien and listeners with her analysis of the 'new world order'

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her analysis of the 'new world order'