What are the differences between antibiotics and vaccines?

Question

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics and vaccines are both used to combat pathogens that enter the body but they work in different ways. There are several differences between antibiotics and vaccines.

Basis of differentiation

Antibiotics

Vaccines

Definition

Are small molecules or compounds used to treat bacterial infections

Are dead or inactivated organisms used to provide immunity and prevent a specific infection or disease

Source

Can be derived from natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic sources

Are derived from live or inactivated microbes, antigens or toxins

Function

Are used to treat an established bacterial infection

Are used as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of occurrence or treat an infections and disease

Time administered

during the time of the infection, when millions of pathogens are already in the body

usually taken once when pathogen numbers are still low and has a permanent effect

Side effects

Potential side effects may include nausea, diarrhea or allergic reactions

Allergic reactions are the most common side effect

Form of intake

many forms including tablets, capsules, drops, ointments

orally or through injection

Examples

Tetracycline 
Penicillin 
Cephalosporin
Aminoglycoside

MMR against measles
Polio vaccine 
BCG against tuberculosis
DTP against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

Basis of differentiation	Antibiotics	Vaccines
Definition	Are small molecules or compounds used to treat bacterial infections	Are dead or inactivated organisms used to provide immunity and prevent a specific infection or disease
Source	Can be derived from natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic sources	Are derived from live or inactivated microbes, antigens or toxins
Function	Are used to treat an established bacterial infection	Are used as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of occurrence or treat an infections and disease
Time administered	during the time of the infection, when millions of pathogens are already in the body	usually taken once when pathogen numbers are still low and has a permanent effect
Side effects	Potential side effects may include nausea, diarrhea or allergic reactions	Allergic reactions are the most common side effect
Form of intake	many forms including tablets, capsules, drops, ointments	orally or through injection
Examples	Tetracycline Penicillin Cephalosporin Aminoglycoside	MMR against measles Polio vaccine BCG against tuberculosis DTP against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

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