The concept of herd immunity is central to the podcast episodes provided, as they discuss its role in the prevention and control of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and measles.

In the episode 'Dr. Jay Bhattacharya', the Stanford professor delves into the importance of herd immunity and how it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, touching on the need for diverse expertise and consideration of societal impacts in pandemic decision-making.

The episode 'Measles Is Back, and That's Scary' highlights the resurgence of measles in the United States, emphasizing the significance of widespread vaccination in maintaining herd immunity and preventing outbreaks of preventable diseases.

The episode 'Reopening with COVID-19: Why Social Distancing, Contact Tracing, and Herd Immunity Matter' explores the challenges of containing COVID-19, the tools used in epidemiology, and the importance of herd immunity and comprehensive plans for safely reopening society.