vaccines are medications that boost our ability to fight off certain diseases. many of the vaccine-preventable diseases are highly contagious and even fatal in unimmunized individuals. prior to the development of vaccines these diseases disabled or killed millions of children. many people living in developed countries today do not appreciate the value of vaccines because the successful use of vaccines has almost eradicated many of these diseases. these diseases are still dangerous and can kill people who are not adequately immunized. immunization is the act of receiving a vaccine. immunity is the ability of the body to recognize specific infecting organisms as foreign and thereby protect against them.
why do we need vaccines?