Efficacy, effectiveness, immunogenicity--are not the same in vaccinology

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Immunology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• The manuscript addresses vaccine use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a critical area in gastroenterology.
• Clarification of specific terminology related to vaccine assessment in IBD is necessary.

Discussion:

• Vaccine efficacy, typically measured via expensive and ethically complex randomized controlled trials, is rarely assessed in IBD patients.
• Vaccine effectiveness, determined through observational studies, is also infrequently measured in IBD due to the challenges of studying rare conditions within a rare patient population.

Key Insights:

• Immunogenicity, the vaccine's ability to provoke an immune response, is the primary focus of the article.
• The inherent difficulties in conducting efficacy and effectiveness studies in IBD patients necessitate a focus on immunogenicity.

Outlook:

• Future research should explore standardized methods for assessing vaccine immunogenicity in IBD.
• Understanding immunogenicity is crucial for developing effective vaccination strategies for individuals with IBD.