Facts about Vaccines

 

Vaccines are small amounts of killed or weakened organisms that are usually injected into your arm or thigh.  This entry into your system causes a response just like when you come into contact with any other virus/bacteria.  Your cells begin to fight off the invader.  Meanwhile, little memory cells called antibodies are being created specific to that invader.  Your body keeps toase antibodies forever.  So if it ever tries to invade again, your body is ready to kill it before it can do any harm. 

 

Are they effective?  Absolutely.  Childhood vaccines produce immunity 90-100% of the time.  Here's a picture of what happened when the Measles vaccine was introduced in 1962:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I get sick from a vaccine?  You may experience side effects but you cannot get sick from vaccines.  The contents of an immunization are not strong enough to make a person sick with the disease.  But keep in mind, your body thinks it is fighting off an invader.  Your immune system is hard at work.  You may have an elevated temperature, soreness and redness at the injection site, etc.  You will receive a side effects flyer with every vaccination.  If you do get sick after a vaccination, it is likely caused by something you caught beforehand.  Remember, it does take time for your cells to create these antibodies.  If you get a flu shot on Monday, and on Tuesday you're in contact with someone with influeza, you will probably get the flu! 

 

For more questions on Vaccines, visit: 

 

 

 

Centers for Disease COntrol and Prevention. (2014). Facts for Parents: Diseases and the Vaccines that prevent them. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/fact-sheet-parents.html

 

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015). Vaccine Safety: The Facts. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Vaccine-Safety-The-Facts.aspx