What term describes the phenomenon in which a sufficiently large proportion of a population being immune to a disease helps protect even those who are not immune, by limiting its overall spread?

Explanation

Herd immunity occurs when a sufficiently large proportion of a population becomes immune to an infectious disease, whether through vaccination or prior infection, making it much more difficult for the disease to spread from person to person, which in turn helps protect individuals within that population who are not immune, such as newborns or people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. The specific proportion of a population that needs to be immune to achieve effective herd immunity varies depending on how contagious a particular disease is. This concept is a major consideration in public health strategies for controlling and eventually reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Explore more Everyday Science MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.