We cannot run away to moon, need to develop herd immunity: Epidemiologist

Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil, former Principal, Christian Medical College, Vellore is one of the country’s one of leading epidemiologists. Serving Indian Council of Medical Research in various advisory committees in the past, his work involves decades of extensive research in the area of infectious diseases. Muliyil tells Somesh Jha that the days of eradicating the disease is over and the country should move towards developing ‘herd immunity’. Edited excerpts:

After a 21-day lockdown, the government wants the states to frame an ‘exit’ strategy. How should we go about in the second phase?

The principle of the whole strategy is based on