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Chapter 4: Problem 9

Vaccines don't provide immunity from disease for some people. But if most people get vaccinated against a disease, such as measles, then the population achieves "herd immunity," which means that there are so few cases of the disease that even people for whom vaccinations are ineffective are unlikely to contract the disease. An article in the Economist argued that "herd immunity is a classic public good." a. Do you agree with this statement? b. The same article argued that there is an incentive to "free ride' off the contributions of others" by not getting vaccinated. What does the author mean by "free ride"? If the author is correct, what will be the effect of this free riding? c. Given your answer to part (b), why do most people vaccinate their children against childhood diseases, and why do many adults get vaccinated against influenza?

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. Yes, herd immunity is indeed a public good as it is non-excludable and benefits all, including those who cannot get vaccinated. b. 'Free riding' refers to the practice of benefiting from the herd immunity without getting vaccinated, risking the overall immunity if practiced widely. c. People get vaccinated because of various reasons including social responsibility, trust in medical science, and the understanding of maintaining herd immunity.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Herd Immunity as a Public Good

Herd immunity is considered a public good because it benefits everyone in the community, including those who cannot or choose not to get vaccinated. Public goods are non-excludable, meaning that even if an individual does not contribute (in this case, by getting vaccinated), they cannot be excluded from the benefits that the public good provides (i.e., herd immunity). Often, public goods are also non-rivalrous, indicating that one person's use of the good does not reduce its availability to others.
02

Discussing 'Free Riding' in Vaccination Context

The term 'free ride' refers to when an individual receives a benefit (such as protection from disease via herd immunity) without contributing to the cost (getting vaccinated). The author suggests that because of the public good nature of vaccines, there is an incentive for individuals to 'free ride', or benefit from the herd immunity provided by others' vaccinations without getting vaccinated themselves. If this occurs widely, it could lead to a decrease in the overall vaccination rate, threatening the overall herd immunity of the population.
03

Understanding Motivations for Vaccination

The reasons why most people vaccinate their children and get vaccinated themselves can be multifaceted. This can involve a sense of social responsibility, the desire to protect one's own health and that of others, trust in medical science, to avoid legal or societal consequences, and more. Despite the 'free ride' phenomenon, many understand that high vaccination rates are important in maintaining herd immunity and protecting those who cannot receive vaccines due to medical reasons.

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