Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
Vaccination and herd immunity: what more do we know?
Harunor Rashid1, Gulam Khandaker, Robert Booy
1National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Westmead and The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Purpose Of Review:
This review summarizes herd immunity, focusing on conceptual developments with application to vaccination programs.
Recent Findings:
The conventional idea of herd immunity is based on the relationship between the transmission dynamics of infectious agents and population immunity. However, there have been some recent conceptual developments in vaccine 'herd immunity' or 'herd protection' that address the complexities of imperfect immunity, heterogeneous populations, nonrandom vaccine uptake and 'freeloaders'. Some vaccines may provide better protection than others; for instance, meningococcal conjugate vaccines are superior to polysaccharide vaccines, as is true of pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines. Achieving a very high uptake rate should be the target for certain vaccines, for example, measles vaccine, in order to prevent the disease effectively. Emerging issues, for example, waning of immunity after pertussis vaccination, are fresh challenges.
Summary:
Herd immunity is a complex issue inherent to a vaccine and the population receiving the vaccine. We have more to learn and apply.
More Related Videos
15:57Application of Long-term cultured Interferon-γ Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay for Assessing Effector and Memory T Cell Responses in Cattle
Published on: July 11, 2015
13:00Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Published on: July 31, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Vaccinations
Vaccines
Active versus Passive Immunity
Active Immunity
Active immunity refers to the resistance one develops...
Immunological Memory
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature is...
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Vaccine Production