What is herd immunity and why is it so important?

Answer 1

Herd immunity occurs when when the majority of a population are immune to an infectious disease. Immunity can be developed when people are exposed to the infection and develop antibodies to it. Antibodies are blood proteins produced by the immune system to fight foreign pathogens like viruses. The most common way to achieve herd immunity is vaccination. Herd immunity is important because it helps protect vulnerable members of society. These people include people who cannot be vaccinated or at high risk of getting very sick from a disease. For example, very young children cannot be vaccinated for certain diseases and some diseases are very dangerous for people with preexisting conditions.