Vaccines work together with your body to strengthen your immune system. When you are exposed to an infectious disease, your body makes antibodies to help recognize and fight off the infection. Vaccines work by helping your body to make these antibodies without ever being exposed to an infectious disease. Therefore, vaccines provide immunity to these diseases.
Why vaccinations are important…
Each year, thousands of people are hospitalized due to vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines are essential to lowering your risk of contracting dangerous diseases and experiencing associated complications. Additionally, vaccinations decrease the incidence of certain infectious diseases in the general population or eliminate them all together.
By getting vaccinated, you are not just protecting yourself but the others around you. Certain individuals may be unable to get a vaccine because of their medical conditions or age. Others, such as the elderly, have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infection. By getting vaccinated, you are less likely to spread infectious diseases to others1.