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- DictionaryHerd im·mu·ni·ty
noun
- 1. resistance to the spread of an infectious disease within a population that is based on pre-existing immunity of a high proportion of individuals as a result of previous infection or vaccination: "the level of vaccination needed to achieve herd immunity varies by disease but ranges from 83 to 94 percent"
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Nov 4, 2023 · Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease. The spread of disease from person to person becomes unlikely when herd immunity is achieved. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.
Herd immunity means that enough people in a group or area have achieved immunity (protection) against a virus or other infectious agent to make it very difficult for the infection to spread. Immunity happens in multiple ways: through natural infection, vaccination or passive transfer.
Updated 31 December 2020. What is ‘herd immunity’? 'Herd immunity', also known as 'population immunity', is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection.
- What is ‘herd immunity’?'Herd immunity', also known as 'population immunity', is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immun...
- What is WHO’s position on ‘herd immunity’ as a way of fighting COVID-19?Attempts to reach ‘herd immunity’ through exposing people to a virus are scientifically problematic and unethical. Letting COVID-19 spread through...
- What do we know about immunity from COVID-19?Most people who are infected with COVID-19 develop an immune response within the first few weeks after infection. Research is still ongoing into ho...
- What is WHO’s position on ‘lockdowns’ as a way of fighting COVID-19?Large scale physical distancing measures and movement restrictions, often referred to as ‘lockdowns’, can slow COVID‑19 transmission by limiting co...
Apr 24, 2020 · How Does Herd Immunity Work? Herd immunity is something that happens when a large number of people in a community develop immunity—or the body’s own protection—against a contagious disease. This immunity can be developed naturally when the body makes antibodies after a viral infection that can help fight the infection better the next time.
Herd immunity (also called herd effect, community immunity, population immunity, or mass immunity) is a form of indirect protection that applies only to contagious diseases. It occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through previous infections or vaccination , [1] thereby reducing the ...
Dec 7, 2023 · Herd immunity, or community immunity, is when a large part of the population of an area is immune to a specific disease. If enough people are resistant to the cause...
Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to an infectious disease and the risk of spread from person to person decreases; those who are not immune are indirectly protected because ongoing disease spread is very small.
