Making sure that children of all ages receive all vaccinations on time is one of the most important things that can be done to ensure children’s long-term health as well as the health of friends, classmates, and others in the community. Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from potentially harmful, sometimes fatal, diseases.

Why do we need immunisation?

The national immunisation programme has meant that dangerous diseases, such as polio, have disappeared in the UK. But these diseases could come back – they are still around in many countries throughout the world. That’s why it’s so important for you to protect yourself. In the UK, such diseases are kept at bay by the high immunisation rates.

How do vaccines work?

A vaccine contains a small part of the bacterium or virus that causes a disease, or tiny amounts of the chemicals the bacterium produces. Vaccines work by causing the body’s immune system to make antibodies (substances to fight infections and diseases). So if you come into contact with the infection, the antibodies will recognise it and protect you.

For further information and advice on immunisations:

• https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/
• http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/