Final answer:
Pandemics disproportionately affect individuals with compromised immune systems, including pregnant women, young children, older adults, and the chronically ill. Social and economic factors, as well as nutrition and exposure to famines, can significantly weaken the immune response, increasing vulnerability to diseases. Differential mortality, societal ramifications, and concepts like herd immunity highlight the complexity of pandemic impacts on health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically, pandemics have had the greatest impact on members of society with weakened immune systems (IC). These groups include pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with medical conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, organ transplants, HIV/AIDS, or those receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Societal implications of pandemics are vast, causing social unrest, political instability, and a rise in nationalism. Furthermore, factors such as nutrition deficiency and exposure to famines can severely impact the energetic supply of the immune system, leading to higher susceptibility to diseases.
During past pandemics, like the Black Death, differential mortality was observed, where already weakened individuals faced higher mortality rates. It's also important to note heterogeneous immunological responses due to factors such as age, socio-economic status, and living conditions.
In addition, the concept of herd immunity can provide indirect protection to those who cannot safely receive vaccines.