📚 StudyHub

🔬 Biology  ·  Immune System  ·  NEET

What is herd immunity?

  • A A specific form of collective immunity that develops mainly within domesticated farm animal populations during normal conditions
  • B When enough people in a population are immune that the pathogen cannot spread efficiently, protecting even unvaccinated individuals
  • C A form of immunity that is sometimes thought to be acquired specifically through eating particular nutrient-rich foods as generally observed
  • D A specialized type of passive immunity that some believe is transferred directly between family members in typical laboratory settings

Correct answer: B. When enough people in a population are immune that the pathogen cannot spread efficiently, protecting even unvaccinated individuals

Explanation: Herd (population) immunity: when a sufficient proportion of a population is immune (by vaccination or past infection), transmission chains break and even non-immune individuals are protected. Threshold varies: measles requires ~95% immunity; polio ~80-85%.

Concept context

Innate and adaptive immunity, B cells, T cells, antibodies, vaccines, and immune disorders. Critical for NEET.

Read the full Immune System notes →