The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that less than 10 percent of the global population have antibodies to the coronavirus, said Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist, Report informs with reference to Sputnik News.
"Less than 10% of the world's population actually has antibodies to this virus. Of course, in some settings, like particularly in the very high-density urban settlements, there are pockets where 50, 60 percent of the population has been exposed to the virus and has antibodies," Swaminathan said in an interview, released on the official WHO twitter page.
The WHO chief scientist stressed that the only way to achieve mass herd immunity is through vaccination.
According to Swaminathan, the currently approved vaccines offer proper protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and COVID-related deaths. The vaccines' effectiveness with regard to mild forms of the disease and asymptomatic coronavirus infection is still being studied.