Free-riding in public health

Free-riding in public health occurs when individuals or groups benefit from health services or protections provided by others without contributing their fair share of resources or effort. For example, someone might rely on herd immunity from widespread vaccination without getting vaccinated themselves, assuming they are protected while others bear the costs. This can undermine the overall effectiveness of public health initiatives, as if many people choose not to participate or contribute, the collective benefits could diminish, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes for the entire community.