Sweden is often used as an example of a country where a population immunity strategy is working, without lockdowns. Its chief public health expert Anders Tegnell himself has said “Each country has to reach ‘herd immunity’ in one way or another, and we are going to reach it in a different way”.
However, firstly, the idea that Sweden has no restrictions or lockdown is a misconception and secondly the assertion that its strategy is successful is far from clear. Independent SAGE has discussed the problems with a population immunity strategy in detail in an accompanying report released on 25 September. In this report we look at Sweden’s response, context and current outcomes over the pandemic period to date.
