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Why don't some people get vaccine protection? How does herd immunity save them?
Vaccination is an important way to protect society from infectious diseases, but not everyone has access to this protection. According to expert research, some people cannot be vaccinated due to health or age reasons, and even the immune effect of vaccination will continue to decrease due to various factors. This makes herd immunity key to protecting these vulnerable groups.
Groups that cannot be protected by vaccines
Some people cannot be vaccinated because:
- Health issues: People with immune disorders, for example, may not be able to cope with the attenuated or killed viruses in vaccines.
- Age: Some vaccines are difficult to give to newborn babies because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.
- Contraindications: Past allergic reactions to certain vaccines or other medical reasons.
The power of herd immunitySome individuals may not develop adequate immunity, which puts them at high risk during an epidemic.
Herd immunity is a protective measure that reduces the chances of a virus spreading when a certain proportion of a population becomes immune (through vaccination or natural infection). This way, people who cannot be vaccinated will also be protected. For example, vaccinating adults against pertussis protects young infants because adults can be carriers of the pathogen. In many cases, vaccination not only protects individuals, but also maintains the overall health of society by reducing the spread of disease.
The effective vaccination rate and the maintenance of herd immunity are critical to maintaining the overall health of society.
Vaccine Immunity and the "Free Rider" Phenomenon
In some cases, some people choose not to be vaccinated, but rely on the vaccination of others to build herd immunity. This phenomenon is called the "free rider" problem, and as the number of people who do not get vaccinated increases, the outbreaks and severity of infectious diseases may increase. This means that if enough people don't get vaccinated, it will lead to a resurgence of a disease that was once under control.
Evolutionary pressures and pathogen changes
Herd immunity also puts evolutionary pressure on pathogens to produce new variants that evade detection by the immune system. As vaccine strains decrease due to herd immunity, other strains may rise, which means we need to continuously update vaccines to fight these emerging viruses.
Historical experience shows that if vaccine strategies are not adjusted in a timely manner, some diseases originally controlled by vaccines may become a threat again.
Possibility of eradicating infectious diseases
If a sufficient proportion of a population remains immune, an infectious disease can no longer spread within that population and may even be eradicated. The successful global eradication of diseases such as smallpox and rinderpest has become an important milestone in public health. However, eradication efforts are made more difficult by the low vaccination rates in some areas, threatening the stability of the fight against the epidemic.
ConclusionWith the protection of vaccination, herd immunity can become a powerful line of defense to save most people, especially the vulnerable. However, if vaccination rates are insufficient, certain groups may not be able to fully obtain this protection, which could lead to a public health crisis. Faced with this challenge, how should we balance individual choices with the interests of public health?
