Herd immunity: recent uses in vaccine assessment

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Immunology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Human communities exhibit collective defense against infectious agents, exceeding individual immune responses.
• Herd immunity, analogous to individual immunity, describes community-level protection varying from susceptibility to full resistance.
• This community property results from natural selection and predator-prey dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and explore the concept of herd immunity in human populations.
• To discuss the evolution and varying terminology of herd immunity (e.g., herd protection, community immunity).
• To highlight the application of herd immunity knowledge in public health, particularly in vaccine and vaccination strategy decisions.

Main Methods:

• Review of observational studies and epidemiological models related to herd immunity.
• Analysis of the evolutionary basis of herd immunity through natural selection.
• Examination of the historical and evolving terminology surrounding community immunity.

Main Results:

• Herd immunity represents a community's collective resistance to infectious diseases.
• The concept has evolved, with related terms like herd protection and community immunity emerging.
• Knowledge of herd immunity significantly informs vaccine choices and public health strategies.

Conclusions:

• Herd immunity is a vital ecological and evolutionary phenomenon influencing population health.
• Understanding herd immunity is essential for effective vaccination programs and disease control.
• Future research will likely expand upon herd immunity, impacting public health interventions.