What is the main purpose of vaccines?

The main purpose of vaccines is to stimulate the immune response. Vaccines work by introducing a harmless component of a pathogen, such as inactivated or attenuated viruses, proteins, or their genetic material, into the body. This prompts the immune system to recognize these components as foreign and mount a defensive response.

When a person is vaccinated, the immune system develops memory cells that specifically target the pathogen encountered in the vaccine. This means that if the person is later exposed to the actual pathogen, their immune system can respond more rapidly and effectively, reducing the risk of severe disease or even infection altogether.

While curing infectious diseases and eliminating pathogens are important goals in disease control, these are not the primary functions of vaccines. Vaccines are preventive tools designed to be part of public health strategies to build immunity within populations rather than directly curing existing infections.