Vaccinations are medicines that are used to activate the production of antibodies and provide immunity to generate a reaction that will protect an individual from one or more diseases.

2. What are vaccines?
Vaccines contain weakened or dead versions of
the antigens that cause diseases. This means
that the antigens cannot produce the signs or
symptoms of the disease, but they do stimulate
the immune system to create antibodies. These
antibodies help protect you if you are exposed
to the disease in the future. Vaccines not only
help keep your child healthy, they help all
children by stamping out serious childhood
diseases.

3. Childhood Vaccine:
Childhood vaccines protect children from a variety of
serious or potentially fatal diseases, including
diphtheria, measles, meningitis, polio, tetanus and
whooping cough. If these diseases seem uncommon -
or even unheard of - it's usually because these
vaccines are doing their job.

4. Do vaccines cause autism?
 Vaccines do not cause autism. Despite
much controversy on the topic,
researchers haven't found a connection
between autism and childhood vaccines.
In fact, the original study that ignited the
debate years ago has been retracted.
 Although signs of autism may appear at
about the same time children receive
certain vaccines - such as the measles,
mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine - this
is simply a coincidence.

5. What is the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine (also called the
influenza vaccine) is available by shot
or by nasal spray. The flu shot
contains dead viruses. The nasal-
spray vaccine contains live but
weakened viruses. You cannot get the
flu from the flu shot or the nasal-spray
vaccine.

6. Are vaccines safe?
Vaccines are generally quite safe. The
protection provided by vaccines far outweighs
the very small risk of serious problems.
Vaccines have made many serious childhood
diseases rare today. Talk to your family doctor
if you have any questions.
Do vaccines have side effects?
Some vaccines may cause mild temporary
side effects such as fever, or soreness or a
lump under the skin where the shot was
given. Your family doctor will talk to you about
possible side effects with certain vaccines.