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> So it only protects based on "spreading" of disease? Yes. If there are fewer carriers around, the unvaccinated person is at lower risk. A virus depends on ca

> So it only protects based on "spreading" of disease? Yes. If there are fewer carriers around, the unvaccinated person is at lower risk. A virus depends on carriers to reproduce itself. > Wouldn't this mean that the only people who are at risk are other unvaccinated kids? (because the vaccinated ones are protected already?) Yes. I think maybe the part that is evading you is that this is a game theory problem. One needn't vaccinate every person in order to stop the contagion. There is a tipping point. If enough people opt out of vaccinations, the population crosses the tipping point. > And if vaccinations can fail, what is the failure rate? I have no idea. I have read that it is non-zero for various vaccines. Maybe somebody else can help you with this.

RobertRoberts 8y ago
>A virus depends on carriers to reproduce itself. Other comments state that anyone can carry the virus, even vaccinated people though... >One needn't vaccinate every person in order to stop the contagion. My original question needed to be clarified, forgive me for confusing things. My question was about protection more the "spreading". Shouldn't a disease only spread to unvaccinated people? And that all vaccinated people should be fine? Again, I reference the idea that a single US traveler needs their shots before entering a country with certain diseases. (a single person surrounded by unvaccinated)
- mcculley 8y ago
  > Shouldn't a disease only spread to unvaccinated people? Yes, and there are, by necessity and previously discussed, always going to be some unvaccinated people. In some cases this is because the vaccine cannot be administered until a certain age. In some cases, it is because the vaccine fails. A small amount of "free riders" can work. It is when parents put too many free riders into a population that it crosses a tipping point.

RobertRoberts 8y ago

>A virus depends on carriers to reproduce itself. Other comments state that anyone can carry the virus, even vaccinated people though... >One needn't vaccinate every person in order to stop the contagion. My original question needed to be clarified, forgive me for confusing things. My question was about protection more the "spreading". Shouldn't a disease only spread to unvaccinated people? And that all vaccinated people should be fine? Again, I reference the idea that a single US traveler needs their shots before entering a country with certain diseases. (a single person surrounded by unvaccinated)

mcculley 8y ago
> Shouldn't a disease only spread to unvaccinated people? Yes, and there are, by necessity and previously discussed, always going to be some unvaccinated people. In some cases this is because the vaccine cannot be administered until a certain age. In some cases, it is because the vaccine fails. A small amount of "free riders" can work. It is when parents put too many free riders into a population that it crosses a tipping point.