Final answer:
Health care professionals have an ongoing risk of developing a latex allergy through repeated exposure, despite initially not having the allergy. An allergy is characterized by an unnecessary immune response to harmless substances, indicating it's a non-protective immune response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that health care professionals are not at risk of a latex allergy if they don't already have it is False. Health care professionals can develop a latex allergy even if they don't initially have it due to repeated exposure to latex products, which can sensitize the immune system over time. Allergies result from an immune response to a protein that is not harmful and doesn't require a defense mechanism from the body. This can classify as a non-protective immune response, which is non-beneficial and can cause a range of symptoms from mild to life-threatening.