Vaccines

There are lots of pathogens (or "bugs") everywhere that try to infect your body so they can survive.

Many of these bugs are harmless but some can make you extremely ill, have long-term effects on your health, or could sadly lead to death in extreme cases.

Thankfully, your body’s immune system is there to fight these bugs to stop you getting really unwell.

There are two parts of the immune system. The innate immune system is the first line of defence and fights anything that it comes across.

These cells call for back up from the stronger part of the immune system.

Sometimes you might feel a little unwell for a few days for these cells to do their job.

The other part is called the adaptive immune system. This kicks in when it recognises a bug is causing a problem by activating B and T cells.

B cells make antibodies that mark the bug so that other cells can destroy them and then create memory cells so your body can remember the marks later.

T cells are special bug killer cells and they can activate and control the rest of the immune system.

For serious infections, you don’t want to wait for our innate immune system to do its job.

If it takes too long, you might run out of time fighting the bug, or get too ill to do it well.

So you need specialised B and T cells to be ready to destroy the bug as quickly as possible.

It’s like they have been given a turbo charge.

The next time you are exposed to an infection, the bug doesn’t stand a chance.

This is why you need a vaccine for dangerous infections. They give your body a chance to practise making the antibodies.

Vaccines either have the tiniest live amount of the bug, too small to make you ill or are inactive and can’t make you ill.

So, if you have your vaccinations for a dangerous bug like measles or meningitis (or any vaccinations your doctor thinks you should have), your body is ready to fight those bugs straight away.

Well done! You’ve protected yourself and you community by getting your vaccinations.