Attenuated viruses can be taken orally because they will survive passage into the gastrointestinal tract and will be absorbed into the blood stream. The method of administration is therefore easier than by injection.However, the drawback is that the viruses may on certain occasion induce mild symptoms of disease in the body and they pose more of a risk than the inactivated viruses. They do call forth a more substantial immune response, however, and for this reason they may be advantageous when an epidemic is taking place or is anticipated.