Hot Topics: Natural Infection vs. Immunization
It is true that natural infection almost always causes better immunity than vaccines. Whereas immunity from disease often follows a single natural infection, immunity from vaccines usually occurs only after several doses. However, the difference between vaccination and natural infection is the price paid for immunity.
The price paid for immunity after natural infection might be pneumonia from chickenpox, mental retardation from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumonia from pneumococcus, birth defects from rubella, liver cancer from hepatitis B virus, or death from measles.
Immunization with vaccines, like natural infections, induces long-lived immunity, but unlike natural infection, does not extract such a high price for immunity.
Of interest, a few vaccines induce a better immune response than natural infection:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine – The high purity of the specific protein in the vaccine leads to a better immune reponse than natural infection.
- Tetanus vaccine – The toxin made by tetanus is so potent that the amount that causes disease is actually lower than the amount that induces a long-lasting immune response. This is why people with tetanus disease are still recommended to get the vaccine.
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine – children less than 2 years old do not typically make a good response to the complex sugar coating (polysaccharide) on the surface of Hib that causes disease; however, the vaccine links this polysaccharide to a helper protein that creates a better immune response than would occur naturally.
- Pneumococcal vaccine – This vaccine works the same way as the Hib vaccine to create a better immune response than natural infection.
Reviewed by: Paul A. Offit, MD
Date: October 2011
Materials in this section are updated as new information and vaccines become available. The Vaccine Education Center staff regularly reviews materials for accuracy.
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