Antiparasitic drugs will remain important for a long time yet, though the development of resistance could limit their use. The continuous threat of drug resistance, the issue of residues entering the food chain and a lack of new drugs are all major reasons to focus research (and money) on vaccine development. Indeed, efforts towards vaccine development should be pursued intensively while drug-based infection control persists; it is pointless to wait until effective control is lost. Many vaccines may find their greatest and most immediate application in integrated control strategies. The synergies offered by a combination of vaccines and parasiticides should be thoroughly explored, as this approach may lead to a substantial reduction in the use of parasiticides.