Advantages of Immunisation
The primary advantage of immunisation is that it helps protect people from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. Immunisation helps protect individuals from contracting the diseases, as well as from transmitting the diseases to other people. Vaccines are highly effective in providing long-term immunity against a variety of diseases, including measles, polio, and whooping cough.
Immunisation also helps to reduce the spread of disease within communities. When a large number of people are immunised against a particular disease, there is a reduced risk of the disease spreading in the community. This is known as 'herd immunity' and it is an effective way of protecting vulnerable members of the community, such as infants and elderly people, who may not be able to receive vaccinations.
Immunisation is also relatively cost-effective. Vaccines are often cheaper than the treatments that may be required if a person contracts the disease. As well as this, the long-term benefits of immunisation are often greater than the costs of the vaccine.
Disadvantages of Immunisation
One of the main disadvantages of immunisation is that there can be side-effects. Some vaccines, such as the MMR vaccine, can cause mild side-effects such as a mild fever and soreness at the injection site. In rare cases, more severe side-effects can occur.
Another disadvantage of immunisation is that it does not provide 100% protection against the disease. Even after immunisation, there is still a chance that a person can contract the disease. Additionally, some vaccines require multiple doses in order to be effective, which can be inconvenient for some people.
Finally, immunisation is not always available to everyone. In some cases, it may not be suitable for people who have weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS. In these cases, other methods of disease prevention, such as good hygiene, may be more suitable.