How Vaccines Work: Protecting You From Disease

Yes, vaccinations protect people from getting diseases.

Vaccines work by introducing a weakened or killed version of a specific pathogen, such as a bacteria or virus, to the body, causing the immune system to produce antibodies against it. When a person is later exposed to the actual pathogen, their immune system can quickly recognize and destroy it, preventing infection or reducing its severity.

Vaccines have proven highly effective in controlling and even eliminating many infectious diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and smallpox.