Indonesia ditches herd immunity as Covid-19 Delta variant pushes it beyond reach

Indonesia is shifting away from its goal of reaching herd immunity for Covid-19 as the rise of the more infectious Delta variant pushes the threshold beyond reach.

Currently available vaccines are less effective at stopping transmission of the Delta variant, making it possible for the virus to continue circulating even if everyone in the country gets immunised, according to data under review by the government.

Indonesia, which has become the epicentre of the global pandemic, plans to redouble its efforts to control Covid-19 on the ground rather than relying on vaccinations alone to bring it to heel, said Mr Jodi Mahardi, spokesman for the minister overseeing the pandemic response.

Agencies