Herd immunity
- August 1, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Herd immunity
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: The fourth sero survey conducted across India found that on an average 67.6% of the population has been infected. Also, over 25% of people have been vaccinated with one dose. It is Erroneous to conclude we have attained herd immunity,’ says Dr. Srinath Reddy
Context:
- Herd immunity happens when so many people in a community become immune to an infectious disease that it stops the disease from spreading.
This can happen in two ways:
- Many people contract the disease and in time build up an immune response to it (natural immunity).
- Many people are vaccinated against the disease to achieve immunity.
- When a large percentage of the population becomes immune to a disease, the spread of that disease slows down or stops.
- Many viral and bacterial infections spread from person to person. This chain is broken when most people don’t get or transmit the infection.
- This helps protect people who aren’t vaccinated or who have low functioning immune systems and may develop an infection more easily.