Vaccines guard against infectious illnesses by boosting the immune system’s capacity to identify and combat foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Some vaccines can provide lifetime protection from certain conditions and guarantee their safety. However, some vaccines cannot last as long as, eventually, their effect ends. The duration of vaccines depends on various factors, including the particular virus or bacteria being targeted and the type of vaccine being administered.
To understand why some vaccines provide lifetime protection and others do not, it is important to understand how the immune system works. The immune system comprises many cell types, such as B and T cells, which may identify foreign substances and make antibodies to combat them (Pollard & Bijker, 2021). For some types of antigens, the body can mount a strong immune response after just one exposure, meaning that a single dose of the vaccine may be enough to provide lifetime protection. These immunizations offer defense against rubella, measles, mumps, and polio, as well as some of the newer vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) (Pollard & Bijker, 2021). Other types of antigens, however, may not elicit a strong enough response from the immune system to provide lifetime protection.
These types of antigens require multiple vaccine doses to ensure long-term protection. Examples of these types of vaccines include those that protect against influenza, pertussis, and hepatitis A and B (Pollard & Bijker, 2021). In addition, some vaccines may not provide lifetime protection simply because the virus or bacteria can mutate over time. This is especially true for viruses, like the flu, that might alter from season to season. As a result, the vaccine may no longer be effective against the new strain, requiring a new vaccine to be regularly developed.
Finally, some vaccines may not offer lifetime protection because they do not completely protect against viruses or bacteria. For instance, the vaccine for HPV may protect against some strains but not all. In these cases, booster shots may be necessary to maintain protection.
In summary, by encouraging to recognize and battle foreign invaders, the immune system, vaccines protect against infectious illnesses, although some do not offer lifetime immunity for various reasons. Some vaccines provide lifetime protection, and others do not. This is due to various factors, including the particular virus being targeted, the vaccine is administered, the virus’s ability to mutate over time, and the possibility of the vaccine providing complete protection.
Reference
Pollard, A. J., & Bijker, E. M. (2021). A guide to vaccinology: from basic principles to new developments. Nature Reviews Immunology, 21(2), 83-100. Web.