By Dr Theodore A. Dumaluan, EENT
The Race for Herd Immunity doesn’t have to be a Marathon
The pandemic that has befallen us has taken its toll in the world economy. Our country is getting anaemic from the financial bleeding without a clear sight on when it would cease. Soon, just like any functional being, our country will fall, so would with other countries, if no promising remedy is adopted.
It is obvious that there is urgency in solving the enigmatic immunity against the COVID-19. Let me emphasize, unless this is contested, that the objective is Herd Immunity. The first country to acquire herd immunity will be the first to loosen its grip from the curse of SARS-CoV-2 particles. The rat race for herd immunity has kept the world eagerly waiting for the news of a promising vaccine. Vaccine is the gold standard for epidemics and pandemics. The thing is, the production of covid vaccine will not be as fast as how the world has been swept by the disease.
Vaccine production is a marathon race. Whether you crawl or you run, you have to pass every mile or kilometre without missing a mark. Before a vaccine could see the light of success, it has to pass all measures, all tests, all studies, all reviews and all challenges before it hits the finish line and be medalled with the title: PROTECTOR OF THE DISEASE. No shortcuts allowed, lest the brunt of reviews shall rain; claims will be labelled fake and will be destroyed in time from scrutiny. Damages will be accounted for.
The world hopes that the vaccine marathon race will be done before the dusk of history, otherwise the world economy would fall (in darkness) as predicted by Nostradamus.
The question is: Does it have to be a marathon? Putting it simply, is vaccine the only way to Herd Immunity (H.I.)? Or, is there a shorter race that can promise H.I.?
Let us dissect the problem.
Herd Immunity is an epidemiological concept that describes the state where a population is sufficiently protected from a disease that the infection will not spread within that group. Although vaccines hold the title to this, it is not entirely exclusive. Vaccines are in the realm of Acquired or Adaptive Immunity. It goes a long route. But there also exist a shorter route of protection, the Innate Immunity.
Innate immunity refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen’s appearance in the body. These mechanisms include physical barriers such as skin and mucosa, chemicals in the blood, and immune system cells that attack foreign cells in the body. Innate immunity plays an important role in the initial stage of a disease. It will give the terms STOP or PROCEED.
The problem with COVID-19 is basically due to the flawed innate immunity of the nasal mucosa because of the sneaky character of the virus particle. The flaws arise within themucus layer of the mucosal barrier of the nose. I can cite two issues. First, inefficient mucus clearance necessary to flush out trapped airborne virus particles in the initial stage. This allows stagnation of particles, favouring cell infection and tissue invasion. Second, the cloaked character of SARS-CoV-2 allows escape from detection by the immune system cells within the mucus layer. These allows the virus to PROCEED to its course.
Can these innate immunity issues be remedied? Can we STOP it? The answer is: YES.
First, the mucus clearance can be enhanced by saline wash on a daily regular basis. That means daily washing, daily flushing. Furthermore, mucociliary function of the nasal mucosa can be supported with the incorporation of virgin coconut oil (VCO) in the wash. Second, the virus can be killed or weakened in the mucus layer in the absence of immune system cells, or probably uncloaked for the immune cells to neutralize, by adding safe levels of Iodine antiseptic in the wash solution. The VCO also has additive antiviral potency. To sum it up, an inexpensive widely reproducible DIY (Do-It-Yourself) virucidal nasal wash is possible and feasible.
In summary, H.I. doesn’t have to be a marathon race in the realm of Acquired Immunity. They belong almost exclusively to developed countries. We can set a short-run race in realm of Innate Immunity. This is a valid short race with the same lustrous medal. A race that is not exclusive to the funding of rich corporations. The world cannot wait long. Countries are being pushed closer to the edge of economic fallout. I love my country and my country is crying for help.
I hope more minds will focus also on INNATE IMMUNITY, by all means. If daily oral hygiene and hand washing have protected humanity for centuries, so will daily nasal washing.
“I am only one, but I am ONE.” – Teofanes.
If every One would do nasal washing daily with nontoxic virucidal antiseptic solution, the disease will drastically fall. Herd Immunity will be imminent.
These are my thoughts.
Link to DIY antiseptic nasal wash:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=149688489929742&id=107202160845042