Why Do Children Need to Vaccinated

When Germs enter your body and start to reproduce, your immune system recognizes them as foreign substances (antigens), and responds by making proteins called antibodies to fight the antigens (germs that are making you sick). Because the germs have a head start, you will already be sick by the time your immune system has produced enough antibodies to destroy them. But by eliminating the attacking germs, antibodies help you to get well. Now the antibodies start doing their second job, meaning, they remain in your bloodstream, guarding you against future infections. If the same germs ever try to infect you again - even after many years - these antibodies will come to your defense. Only now they can destroy the germs before they have a chance to make you sick. This process is called immunity. It is why most people get diseases like measles or chickenpox only once, even though they might be exposed many times during their lifetime. This is a very effective system for preventing disease. The only problem is you have to get sick before you develop immunity. The idea behind vaccination is to give you immunity to a disease before it has a chance to make you sick. Vaccines contain antigens that cause diseases. However, the antigens in vaccines are weakened or killed. This means they cannot produce the signs or symptoms of the disease, but they do stimulate the immune system to create antibodies. The body practices fighting the disease by making antibodies that recognize specific parts of that germ. This permanent or longstanding response means that if someone is ever exposed to the actual disease, the antibodies are already in place and the body knows how to combat it and the person doesn't get sick. This is calledimmunity. Vaccines not only help keep children healthy, they help them by stamping out serious childhood diseases.