Vaccines work by reducing the risk of
contracting a disease by working with the body’s natural defenses in order to
build protection and memory. The immune system will respond by first
recognizing the invading pathogen that introduced through the injection (or
other route like nasal spray). It will continue on to produce antibodies, which
are proteins that are naturally made by our immune system (1). These antibodies
are specific for the disease they were created from so when they come into
contact with them again they are able to protect you from it faster. However,
vaccines do not cause the disease for which they protect against. Therefore, vaccines
are safe because they provide protection without the consequence of illness and
vaccines (2).
Resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012, March 14). Basics of Vaccines. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vpd-vac-basics.html
- World
Health Organization. (n.d.). Q&A on vaccines. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.who.int/vaccines/questions-and-answers
