Herd Protection explores the intricacies of herd immunity, a concept vital for controlling infectious diseases like COVID-19, by examining the interplay between biological and socio-behavioral factors. The book highlights that achieving herd immunity isn't solely a scientific challenge; public trust, equitable vaccine distribution, and effective communication strategies play crucial roles. It investigates how a sufficient proportion of immune individuals can shield vulnerable populations, while also addressing the pervasive issues of vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and access disparities that impede widespread protection. The book uniquely combines biological and social perspectives and it progresses systematically across chapters.
It begins by introducing core principles of immunology and infectious disease transmission, before examining the history of herd immunity. Later, it dives into the challenges posed by COVID-19, analyzing variant evolution, vaccine effectiveness, and waning immunity. Finally, it explores the social determinants of vaccination, presenting data from epidemiological studies and behavioral science research, offering a holistic understanding of vaccine uptake.
