What is Vaccination/Immunization?
Immunization (vaccination) is a way of creating immunity to certain diseases by using small amounts of weakened forms of pathogens (bacteria or virus) or killed/inactive forms of these pathogens that causes the particular disease. The material administered can also be a purified material such as proteins derived from a virus or bacteria. When you receive a vaccine, it helps your body to create antibodies. Antibodies are the body’s defenses that fight off any foreign substances (germs). At birth, infants have protection against certain diseases because antibodies have passed from the mother when the child is in the womb. Breast feeding continues those benefits for about a year. But in both cases, the protection is temporary. Hence getting your child immunized is something any parent can do to protect their children from dangerous diseases.
