Concepts
Herd Immunity
Also Known As Community Immunity
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The indirect protection a population gains against an infectious disease once enough of its members are immune, whether through vaccination or prior infection, that sustained transmission becomes unlikely and even those not immune are shielded. The proportion needed varies by disease, driven by how contagious it is.
Facts
First Described YearSourced to the subject's own account First Described EraSourced to the subject's own accountTerm coined 1894 in veterinary science; adopted into human epidemiology by British bacteriologists by 1923 1 Concept ClassEpidemiology, population immunity 2 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Sustained high coverage under routine immunization programmes is what produces herd immunity against the targeted diseases.
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