Vaccination: Epidemiological Review

Abstract

The induction of host protective immunity is an important factor in the immunization against potentially fatal disease and emerging illnesses in the U.S. and global populations especially among immunologically susceptible naïve hosts. Vaccination programs need to be evaluated as regards their health and economic population benefit among indigenous at risk populations taking into account emerging pathologies defined by the sudden appearance of a pathogen in nature or in a region of the world. Global collaboration is a necessary aspect of vaccine-preventable diseases since even a small number of wildtype cases of eradicated diseases in one region of the world present opportunities for their re-emergence in geographically remote areas. This study is a step in the direction of understanding the epidemiologic aspects of vaccination.