What is an advantage of attenuated vaccines over inactivated vaccines?

The correct answer highlights that attenuated vaccines often demonstrate higher efficacy in prevention compared to inactivated vaccines. Attenuated vaccines contain live, but weakened, forms of the pathogen that causes a disease. This allows them to elicit a strong and longer-lasting immune response because they typically mimic a natural infection. As a result, the immune system can provide both humoral and cellular immunity, making them more effective in providing comprehensive protection against the pathogen.

In contrast, inactivated vaccines contain killed or inactivated forms of the pathogen, which generally lead to a weaker immune response. While they do manage to induce immunity, the overall efficacy is usually not as high as that of attenuated vaccines. That is why attenuated vaccines are often preferred for certain diseases where a robust immune response is essential.

The advantages of stability, lower preparation costs, and longer shelf life associated with other options do not apply to attenuated vaccines compared to inactivated vaccines. Attenuated vaccines can be less stable and may require careful storage and handling conditions, as well as sometimes being costlier and having a shorter shelf life. Thus, their increased efficacy is a significant advantage that sets them apart in the context of vaccination strategies.