The herd to the rescue: How an invisible shield can keep us healthy - STAT

The herd to the rescue: How an invisible shield can keep us healthy - STAT

Inside STAT: How a hidden shield keeps us healthy

(ALEX HOGAN / STAT)  

If you work in an office this time of year, you might hear a chorus of coughs coming from every direction. Simply staying healthy can seem like an impossible task. And when it comes to common colds, there’s only so much you can do. But there’s an invisible shield that often protects us from other communicable diseases: the herd. We — especially people with vulnerable immune systems — benefit from the effect of herd immunity. STAT’s Alex Hogan explains the concept in a new video.