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How immunization works -

Immunization helps your body fight diseases by using its natural defenses to build resistance. If you've been vaccinated against a specific disease, and you get exposed to it, your immune system remembers it, and responds quickly to stop it from developing.

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How vaccines work -

Vaccines contain small amounts of dead, weakened, or partial virus. When injected into the body, the immune system responds by producing antibodies. So in the future if you're in contact with the virus, the antibodies manage to stop and reduce the impact of the disease.

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Vaccine reactions -

Serious reactions are rare. Minor reactions include short-term redness, swelling, pain, and mild fever. Taking paracetamol can alleviate these.

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The founder of vaccinology -

Edward Jenner was a British physician and scientist who pioneered the concept of vaccines. In 1796, he inoculated a 13-year-old boy with cowpox and demonstrated immunity to smallpox.

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The smallpox vaccine -

Thanks to Jenner, the first smallpox vaccine was developed in 1798. Over the 18th and 19th centuries, systematic implementation of mass smallpox immunization managed to eradicate it in 1979.

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Vaccines cause “herd immunity” -

This means that when the majority of people in a community have been vaccinated against a disease, an unvaccinated person is less likely to get sick. This is because the vaccinated individuals are less likely to get sick and spread the disease.

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It's not harmful to give more than one vaccine at a time to children -

Giving several vaccines at the same time has no negative effect on a child’s immune system. It actually reduces discomfort for the child through fewer injections, and increases the chance of completing the important set of vaccinations according to the national schedule.

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Vaccines are safe -

Licensing of a vaccine requires a lot of evaluation and testing to ensure that it's both safe and effective. Every batch is controlled separately with a lot of monitoring.

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A clinical trial is currently underway for a new universal influenza vaccine -

This vaccine would eliminate the need to update the flu vaccine every year. It would also increase protection from emerging flu strains.

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Vaccines save up to three million children a year from deadly diseases -

Even so, one in five children worldwide still lacks access to lifesaving vaccines. This shows that there's still more work to be done in order to accelerate immunization coverage and close the gap in access.

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It's not better to be immunized by diseases -

The immune response to vaccines is similar to the one produced by natural infection. However, natural infection can make you sicker and even lead to death.

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A baby’s immunity isn't weakened by vaccines -

It's actually the opposite. Vaccines strengthen your baby’s immunity, protecting them from diseases. It keeps them healthy when they're the most vulnerable.

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All licensed vaccines have been rigorously tested in clinical trials -

All vaccines go through a rigorous, multi-stage testing process, which includes large clinical trials with tens of thousands of people.

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Alternative therapies can’t replace vaccines -

There’s no proof that alternative therapies protect against infectious diseases. On the other hand, vaccinations produce the needed immune response and protection against disease.

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Vaccines don't contain microchips -

There have been cases of people believing that vaccines contain microchips enabling governments to track people. But this is technically impossible.

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Since 2000, the measles vaccine has saved more than 21 million lives around the world -

That same year, the US eradicated measles thanks to national vaccine outreach. However, a lack of access to vaccines, collapses in health infrastructure, and a growing hesitation to vaccinate has lead to measles outbreaks in the Americas in recent years.

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Vaccines don't contain mercury -

Before 2000, some vaccines contained thiomersal, a natural compound containing mercury, which was safe. However, it was changed as a precaution.

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Vaccines for eradicated diseases are still important -

Vaccines for eradicated diseases are still important. This is because immunization coverage isn't 100%, so people who are underimmunized or unimmunized aren't protected.

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Not all vaccines are given as shots -

Some vaccines are given orally. These are administered through drops to the mouth. There are also intranasal vaccines, which are put into each nostril using a nasal sprayer.

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Vaccines prevent millions of deaths each year -

Vaccines helped eradicate several life-threatening diseases. And for this reason, they prevent more than 2.5 million deaths each year in all age groups.

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Vaccines are considered a “best buy” in global health -

In addition to health, immunization reduces the economic burden of disease on individuals, families, and communities. According to UNICEF, every US$1 invested in immunizations yields $44 in economic and social benefits.

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Rotavirus can easily be prevented with a vaccine -

Rotavirus is the most common cause of fatal diarrhea among children, which can be prevented with a vaccine. Currently, more than 90 countries have rotavirus vaccines as part of their national immunization programs.

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Vaccines can reduce the impact of disease -

Being vaccinated doesn't mean that you can't catch the disease. What it does is decrease the impact of the virus, which could have been fatal otherwise.

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Thanks to vaccination efforts, the number of polio cases have dropped tremendously -

This is thanks to a poliovirus vaccine that was delivered worldwide through widespread immunization campaigns by global organizations, national governments, and humanitarian agencies. This collaboration will be critical in countries where polio still remains.

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Vaccination doesn't increase cancer -

The global increase in cancer cases over the past 50 years has been caused by many factors, including longer life expectancy and better diagnostic techniques–not vaccination.

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Vaccines don't cause autism -

A common myth is that vaccines cause autism. However, there isn't any evidence that links vaccines with autism or autistic disorders.

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You can't get allergies or asthma from vaccines -

There are no links between vaccines and allergic diseases. Also, vaccines don't worsen any allergies. However, some people might get short-term allergic reactions after getting vaccinated. But this is rare.

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Vaccines will be vital in curbing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) -

AMR is a serious threat to global public health. But immunizations can halt the development of new resistant strains of bacteria and prevent the spread of diseases.

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Vaccines will play a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) -

A global agenda adopted by 193 countries in 2015, vaccination is important to eradicating poverty, solving global hunger, and improving good health and well-being.

Sources: (World Health Organization) (United Nations Foundation) (The Immunisation Advisory Centre) 

See also: Celebrities who have spoken out against vaccinating children

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