Many viral infections can be completely avoided by a simple vaccine. Vaccines are currently available, among others, for:
- Influenza
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
- Chicken pox and shingles
- Hepatitis B
- HPV
- COVID-19
Practicing good personal hygiene and lifestyle habits is another effective strategy toward preventing disease. This includes:
- Engaging in safe sex practices to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Practicing food safety techniques to minimize exposure to pathogens that can cause food poisoning
- Learning about strategies to reduce your risk of contact with virus-bearing vectors, like mosquitoes and ticks
You should also make sure your vaccines are up to date to ensure protection against preventable disease.
Vaccine Effectiveness
Vaccines are consistently proven to be safe and effective against severe disease and death from many viruses. For example, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be 94%–96% effective at preventing severe illness and death. A study of healthcare workers, who are at high risk for contracting COVID-19 due to their proximity to infected people, found the Moderna mRNA vaccine to be 96.3% effective.