What is it about?
This viewpoint argues that skateboarders disregarding social distancing guidelines could help build herd immunity to COVID-19 relatively safely. It cites evidence that children and young people rarely get severely ill from the virus, so their social mixing poses little danger while moving the community toward herd protection.
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Photo by Travis Yewell on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This perspective challenges the prevailing public health messaging that strict social distancing is always the best approach. It suggests allowing low-risk youth to socially mix could be a safe way to build herd immunity, using Sweden's more flexible strategy as a model. The ideas are timely, given ongoing debates about social isolation in schools and society.
Perspectives
As a father and physician, I initially judged the skateboarders for defying public health guidance. But on reflection, I realized they remind me of my teenage self that questioned authority and conventional wisdom. While risky for some, in the big picture, their social mixing poses little danger and could help my community progress toward healthy herd immunity. Their example made me re-examine my assumptions and consider alternative pandemic response strategies.
Thomas F Heston MD
University of Washington
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: How Skateboarders Can Save the World From COVID-19, January 2024, Authorea, Inc.,
DOI: 10.22541/au.170433178.85059098/v1.
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