This paper proposes a deterministic model for the spread of an epidemic. We extend the classical Kermack–McKendrick model, so that a more general contact rate is chosen and a vaccination added. The model is governed by a differential equation (DE) for the time dynamics of the susceptibles, infectives and removals subpopulation. We present some conditions on the existence and uniqueness of a solution to the nonlinear DE. The existence of limits and uniqueness of maximum of infected individuals are...