funny, my father caught whooping cough from a non-vaxed child in FDC in our home (non-vaxed through admitted forgetfulness on the parent behalf, NOT a conscientious choice) - he'd had the boosters, and he still contracted it from her because he fell into the three high risk groups - former coal miner, former smoker, emphysema. immunisation status had nothing to do with it. months and months of him nearly dying every time he breathed too deeply cos he started coughing and couldn't catch another breath. months and months of delay in finding the cause - he was immunised, it wouldn't be whooping cough right? months and months of him not being able to be left alone because he was so unwell.
i'd be interested to see genuine studies that take into account transmission of communicable diseases when all risk factors are taken into account, not just immunisation status.
ooh, and on the work front - how many bugs that are transmitted at work actually have vaccines available? the flu vax (for instance) is only going to be effective against certain strains of flu, there is no vax (in adults) against gastro type bugs. they don't tend to be (in the general population) deadly in the same way that WC, HIb etc are in children with immature immune systems
vax rates are at their highest (from what i can gather - i'm not up for research now) amongst the most vulnerable within our community - the young, the old, the known immunocompromised.