Effectiveness of Vaccinations

As diseases become more controlled by vaccines, some people question whether or not they are still necessary. Additionally, some people may still get sick from a disease after vaccination, leading people to question how effective vaccines really are.
 
It turns out that vaccines are extremely effective and are very beneficial for individuals and for entire populations.

How Well Vaccines Work

Most vaccines are about 99 percent effective at protecting a person or animal from a disease. This means that there is a slight possibility that a vaccinated person could still become sick if exposed to a disease.
 
However, in many cases, a vaccinated person or animal may not become as sick as he would have if he had not been vaccinated at all.
 
In most cases, vaccines will prevent a disease from creating any symptoms or infection in a person or animal, as long as the vaccine is kept up-to-date and any necessary boosters, or follow-up revaccinations, are given.

How Long Vaccines Work

Different vaccines will be effective for different amounts of time. In dogs and cats, most vaccines need to be given yearly or approximately every three years. A veterinarian can make an effective vaccination schedule for a dog or cat based on the animal’s environment and particular risk factors.

In people, vaccinations are given at a few different stages in life. During infancy, a number of vaccines are given, most of which require vaccination in a three- or four-part series. If all vaccines in the series are given, the child will be protected until he enters elementary school, at which point more vaccinations are given.

Vaccinations are also given before young adults enter college. After that, vaccines should last for the rest of a person’s life, in most cases. If a person is at particular risk for exposure to a certain disease, a follow-up vaccine may be given simply to ensure continued protection.

Why Vaccines are Still Necessary

Because disease outbreaks have been mainly controlled because of vaccination use, some people question the necessity of continued vaccination. Vaccines are still necessary, to put it simply, because there is still some risk for getting these diseases.
 
Children and animals that are not vaccinated are at a far higher risk for developing serious diseases than children and animals that have been vaccinated. Vaccination protects individuals from acquiring diseases and also affects entire populations from outbreaks of dangerous diseases.

Why Vaccines are Required by Law

Vaccinations are required by law for the protection of both people and animals. Some diseases that we vaccinated against are very dangerous, or even fatal, so it’s important to look out for the safety of the population.

Some diseases, like rabies, can even be passed from animal to human. Laws that require vaccination for animals and people protect everyone.

Despite these laws, outbreaks sometimes occur. These most often occur in areas or situations where a lot of people or animals live in close quarters, such as in college dorms or in animal shelters.

Vaccination laws do all they can to prevent these outbreaks, and there would most definitely be more outbreaks to worry about if the law was not there to protect the public. Until diseases have been completely eliminated, vaccination laws will still be necessary.

Resources

Nash, Holly (2007). Vaccine Efficacy. Retrieved November 7, 2007, from the Pet Education Web site: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1648&articleid=964.

National Network for Immunization Information (2007). Parents: Why Immunize? Retrieved November 7, 2007, from the NNII Web site: http://www.immunizationinfo.org/
parents/vaccine_effectiveness.cfm.