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Vaccines Do Work, But They’re Not Perfect

Vaccines Do Work, But They’re Not Perfect

By Neal Smoller
Updated on August 13, 2024

If you went back in time and gave a medieval peasant a diphtheria vaccine, they would think it was a miracle.

Yet, when it comes to providing modern people with access to highly advanced TDAP vaccines, the response is mixed. In our contemporary world, there’s a lot of confusion around if and how vaccines work. That’s partly due to the nuanced nature of vaccine science as a whole.

The answer isn’t black and white, but it can be simplified. Read on, fellow health advocate, to learn how vaccines work — because they do — but why they aren’t perfect — because they aren’t, but they’re still important.

Vaccines Do Work: The Science Behind the Shield

How Vaccines Work to Protect Us

You can think of vaccines as training camps for your immune system. Because your immune system does a pretty great job of protecting you from foreign invaders from the jump, but sometimes it needs specific training to tackle specific combatants.

By introducing a small amount or portion of a bacteria or virus, your immune system is able to meet this foe face-to-face and develop specialized immune cells for fighting it off. After being exposed to this tiny antagonist, the cells of your immune system will hold the memory of what exact tactics, strategies, and roundhouse kicks are needed to defeat it.

Okay, so maybe your cells aren’t doing literal roundhouse kicks. But as a metaphor, this description comes pretty close to the process we call immunity and how vaccines work.

Active Ingredients in Vaccines

Also called antigens, the active ingredients in vaccines are designed to imitate an infection and trigger a response from the immune system. While these ingredients are specifically crafted to push the immune system into creating antibodies, not every antigen is actually a complete replica of the infections you’re exposed to in daily life.

If you ask the CDC, they can also be things like:

Dead or weakened viruses or bacteria
Portions of genetic or surface material of viruses or bacteria
Treated bacterial toxins that are rendered non-toxic

Learn More: Vaccine Ingredients in 2024: Less Scary Than You Might Think

The Science of How Vaccines Work

Poking and prodding the immune system into action can help individuals strengthen and prepare their bodies for exposure to illness, but it influences us on the collective level, too.

So, it makes sense that the two core ways vaccines have been proven to help support our wellness are centered on the individual and the community:

Individual Immune Response: Vaccines stimulate the production of antibodies, or the proteins that fight infections. Immune cells then hold the “memory” of this infection and are able to tackle it more adequately in the future.

Collective or “Herd” Immunity: When more individuals are vaccinated, and therefore equipped with the cellular memory needed to fend off infection, a shield of sorts is created around those who aren’t able to be vaccinated for one reason or another. With less harmful material circulating through communities, the more vulnerable portion of those populations is better protected from illness.

The best part is this works both ways: by helping the individual (you), we also get to help the collective (everyone else). AND, helping the collective (everyone else) helps the individual (you)!

Side Note: What is Sterilizing Immunity?

You might have heard about the concept “sterilizing immunity” when COVID-19 vaccines first became available, but what does it really mean? And is it related to herd immunity?

This phrase is used to refer to the ultimate goal of healthcare professionals and vaccinologists. That a virus is eradicated before it even has the chance to replicate in the host. Sterilizing immunity is not the same as herd immunity though and as it currently stands, it exists as a hypothetical for COVID-19.

While it would have been great to accomplish this form of immunity in the case of COVID-19, it’s not really possible currently. Things like viral mutations make it an incredible challenge to reach sterilizing immunity — which leads us perfectly into the next section of this blog.

But They’re Not Perfect: Understanding the Limitations of Vaccines

There are a few reasons why vaccines aren’t the only tool we need in our toolbox. (Or fighters in our defense system if we want to continue that metaphor.) But before you panic, let’s take a look at the things that can impact vaccine efficacy:

1. Mutation of Viruses and Bacteria

Ever-Evolving Threats: Viruses and bacteria constantly mutate. This can lead to new strains that may not be fully covered by existing vaccines. Hence why vaccines, like the annual flu shot, need to be updated regularly.

The Need for Constant Adaptation: Due to these mutations, vaccine scientists continually monitor these changes. Vaccines must be adapted to ensure they remain effective against emerging strains. That’s why you see new versions of vaccines released often and why it’s important to get regular boosters.

Learn More: Vaccine Season Preview: 2024-2025

2. Imperfect Immunity

No 100% Guarantee: Vaccines do significantly reduce the risk of contracting an illness, but they aren’t magic. Everyone is different, which means everyone’s bodies, immune systems, and exposure levels are different, too.

Breakthrough Infections: The uniqueness of our human collective means that breakthrough infections can occur, but it’s important to remember that vaccinations can often reduce the severity of illness and minimize complications even in these cases.

3. Vaccine Limitations in Specific Groups

Vulnerable Populations: Remember how we said everyone has their own, idiosyncratic physiology? Some individuals, particularly those with certain medical conditions or weakened immune responses, may not react to vaccines in the same way as others.

Special Considerations: Hence, there are additional precautions beyond regular vaccinations that these individuals may have to take — like getting booster doses or limiting exposure to illness in their environment.

Do Your Best: How You Can Boost Wellness and Vaccine Protection

To sum it up: We highly recommend getting vaccinated to help protect and preserve your sense of well-being, as well as that of your loved ones and community. But getting vaccinated is a facet of a whole-picture approach to health. A very important facet, but not the only one.

We should all take additional measures to support vaccine protection so we can keep living our healthy, vibrant lives.

So, how do we do that?

1. Get Vaccinated Regularly

Maintain and update your vaccinations and get boosters as they’re available and recommended by your healthcare provider. Following the vaccine schedule can also help you make sure you get vaccinated at the best time — AKA before you get sick during peak cold and flu season.

Learn More: Seasonal Vaccination: When Should You Get Your Vaccines in 2024?

2. Know Your Risks

It’s important to be in touch with and informed about your body and your health needs. For example, folks with chronic illnesses, impaired immunity, or those over 65 might benefit most from specialized vaccines like high-dose flu shots. Talk to your doctor or vaccine provider about the best options for you, specifically.

3. Practice Self-Care

But not just in the trendy, take-a-bath-with-a-martini kind of way that has gotten popular on social media. By self-care, we mean:

Diet: Eating a diverse range of wholesome, nutritious foods and fewer ultra-processed products.
Exercise: Incorporating regular movement at the level that works for you — preferably 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Sleep: Prioritizing genuinely restful sleep, away from electronics and disruptive lights, sounds, etc.
Stress Management: Taking time to reconnect with yourself through meditation, mindfulness, breath work, and the like.
Lifestyle Changes: Making positive, but sustainable, changes to reduce the toxins you bring into your home and put in your body, with the help of a licensed professional if needed.

Vaccines Aren’t Perfect, But They Are Crucial

Congratulations! Now that you’ve made it through this distinctly not black-and-white blog, you now have a more refined, science-based perspective on the benefits and limitations of vaccinations.

Armed with knowledge and nuance, you’re equipped to be a better advocate of your own personal health. But where do you go from here? We recommend that you keep learning, stay proactive, and chat with one of our vaccination experts when you’re ready for your next dose.