How vaccines work
Vaccines teach your immune system to create antibodies that protect you from disease. It’s much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them. Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can often protect you for many years.
Speak to your GP or practice nurse if:
- You are worried about you or your child having a vaccine
- You are not sure if you of your child can have a vaccine
- You could also ask your health visitor any questions you have about vaccines.
Vaccines DO:
Protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
Protect other people in your community – by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines
Undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced – they’re also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced
Sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long – some children may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days
Reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated
Vaccines DO NOT:
Do not cause autism – studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism
Do not overload or weaken the immune system – it's safe to give children several vaccines at a time and this reduces the number of injections they need
Do not cause allergies or any other conditions. The current evidence tells us that vaccinating is safer than not vaccinating
Do not contain mercury (thiomersal)
Do not contain any ingredients that cause harm in such small amounts – but speak to your doctor if you have any known allergies such as eggs or gelatine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD_sPz9HkD8
Why Vaccination is safe and important
Useful resources for professionals
- Childhood Vaccination 2022 | Campaign Resource Centre (phe.gov.uk)
- Check your child’s polio vaccine status – | Campaign Resource Centre (phe.gov.uk)
Useful resources for Parents/Carers
A range of UKHSA videos aimed at parents and carers of infants up to
- one year, infants at one year and children aged three years and older
- nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them
- vaccination-appointment-tips-for-parents
References
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-safe-and-important/
For advice about infection prevention and control measures Bury Health Protection Team call 0161 253 6900 (9am - 5pm) or email infectionprevention@bury.gov.uk
Related Pages
Childhood Illnesses & Ailments
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Last Updated: 6th Dec 2022, 13:54