Adherence & Retention
herd immunity and HIV
Hello,
I'm working on a paper with a colleague and we seem to have differing understandings of "herd immunity" and how it applies to HIV.
She is using the term to describe the reduced risk of HIV infection because overall levels of HIV infection in a community are lower. To me that didn't seem like herd immunity, which I thought had to do with the group's overall resistance.
If anyone could further explain if/how herd immunity applies to HIV that would be great.
Thanks!
sarah
Philip Ricks
Hello:
Generally herd immunity refers to the protective effect of vaccination levels or natural immunity due to previous exposure. In such a setting a person who does not have immunity is protected because other people within the herd have immunity, thus interrupting transmission.
In the context that your colleague is using the term, it is really low prevalence, which does not mean that transmission is interrupted, simply that someone is less likely to be in "contact" with an infected person.
Philip
Philip M. Ricks, PhD
EIS Officer
International Research and Programs Branch, Division of Tuberculosis
Elimination
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
11:33 AM, 12 May 2010 | Permalink
Sarah Arnquist
Thanks for such a quick response Phillip!
1:00 PM, 12 May 2010 | Permalink