Basically, vaccines work by tricking your body’s immune system into thinking you already have a particular disease. Here’s why. When we get an infection, our bodies produce antibodies. According to NIAID, antibodies help fight the disease and often stay in the body even once the disease goes away. As a result, they continue to protect the body from future exposures to the disease. Vaccinations inject individuals with weakened versions of the bacteria or viruses that cause particular diseases. This triggers the body to produce antibodies to fight the invading germs.
- measles, a virus which once killed hundreds of people a year
- mumps, a contagious viral disease
- rubella, another viral disease
- diphtheria, caused by a bacteria spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes
- tetanus, also called lockjaw because it produces painful muscle contractions
- pertussis or whooping cough
- polio, which crippled tens of thousands of children in the 40’s and 50’s
- hepatitis B, a liver disease caused by contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person.
- hepatitis A, another liver disease;
- chicken pox (varicella), often considered a child’s disease, although adults who never had chicken pox as children may get vaccinated in order to avoid getting this disease later on, since chicken pox can often be more severe in older people
- HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type B) related diseases, which can include upper respiratory infections, meningitis and others.
- pneumonia, a potential concern for everyone but particularly for those at high risk. A booster may be needed if you are over 65 and were previously vaccinated more than 5 years ago.
- meningococcal meningitis, a growing problem on college campuses.
the flu, a virus that can be especially dangerous for the elderly and for those who have chronic illnesses.