Vaccine facts
Why vacVaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from disease.cination is safe and important
  • Vaccines reduce the spread of infectious diseases and even get rid of some altogether. Since they were introduced, serious conditions like polio and tetanus have become very rare in the UK.
  • Vaccination is the most important thing you can do to protect your community against serious illnesses. When enough people get vaccinated, it’s harder for a disease to spread to those who can’t have vaccines.
  • Vaccines are a crucial part of our defence against infectious diseases like flu and measles. Getting vaccinated protects not only you, but also your family, friends and community.

 

Immunisation currently prevents 2-3 million deaths every year from diseases like diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles. After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and promoting good health.
It's safe to give children several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections they need. Vaccines protect other people in your community - by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines.

Watch Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam explain in more detail below:

Find out more about vaccinations on the NHS website – Why vaccination is safe and important – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Last updated on 1 December 2020 at 12:37 by communications and engagement manager