True or False: Vaccines are considered one of the best defenses against viral infections.

Vaccines are indeed considered one of the best defenses against viral infections. They work by stimulating the immune system to recognize and combat specific viruses without causing the illness itself. When vaccinated, individuals develop memory cells that remember how to fight off the specific virus if they encounter it in the future. This preventive measure has proven effective in controlling and even eliminating several viral diseases, such as measles, mumps, polio, and more recently, COVID-19.

The development of vaccines has significantly reduced the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases, showcasing their importance in public health. By creating herd immunity, vaccines also protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as individuals with certain medical conditions or weakened immune systems. Therefore, labeling vaccines as one of the best defenses against viral infections accurately reflects their critical role in disease prevention and control.