The pros and cons of immunisation -- Paper two: the importance of immunisation

Like other medicine, all vaccines have some side effects or complications; in general the incidence and severity of complications is lower than for pharmaceuticals. When considered on a population basis, the incidence of serious complications of vaccination is minute, when compared with the outcome of natural infection. Enlightened governments, which promote immunisation as a means of minimising the impact of infectious diseases in their communities, also accept the responsibility for any adverse events which can be demonstrated to be vaccine related, and provide compensation and care for people who are affected.