Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year.
Since vaccines were introduced, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or are now very rarely seen.
However, if people stop having vaccines, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.
How vaccines work
Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases. It's much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them.
All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child. It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval.
