Vaccines help to prevent the occurrence of certain illnesses by triggering the body's
immune system to develop defenses against
infection. The vaccines themselves contain deactivated or partial components of the infectious
bacteria or virus. The bacteria or virus in the vaccine is not capable of infecting the recipient, yet it will trigger the body to build defenses to prevent infection when exposed to the actual virus or bacteria. There are approximately 25 diseases that have vaccines available for prevention.
View sub-topics at right to learn more about some specific vaccines and some of the vaccines' more serious adverse side effects.
See Also
- Anthrax Vaccine
- Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drugs: Overview
- Hepatitis A Vaccine: Overview
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- LYMErix / Lyme Disease Vaccine
- Mumps-Measels-Rubella Vaccine: Overview
- Polio Vaccine: Overview
- Prevnar Meningitis Vaccine: Overview
- RhoGAM
- RotaShield: Overview
- Thimerosal
- Yellow Fever: Overview
- National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: FAQ