Children's activities

What is immunity?

When you get sick, your body makes antibodies, or fighters, to fight the disease and help you get better. These fighters stay in your body, even after the disease has gone, and protect you from getting the same illness again. This is called immunity.

Babies are immune to many diseases because they have antibodies they have gotten from their mothers. Unfortunately, this immunity does not last and wears off during the first year of life. Fortunately, there is something we can do to keep immune. We can get a vaccine.

Vaccines trick your body so that it thinks it is being attacked by a disease. Your body's response: it produces antibodies which remain in your body. If you are exposed to the actual disease, you will be protected.

What is in a vaccine and how is it given?

Weak or “dead” versions of the viruses or bacteria that cause disease are made into vaccines. Some of these vaccines can be given as needles or shots and others as drops to be swallowed.

Other names for immunization are:

• needles
• baby shots
• vaccines
• vaccinations

Why is immunization important?

When children don’t have their shots and come in contact with someone who has measles, whooping cough or one of the other childhood diseases, they will probably get sick. When children are immunized, their bodies have the best chance to fight off these diseases.

When should you be immunized?

Children are usually given their first vaccines when they are babies. Some vaccines need extra help, or booster shots, to keep you immune. Your health care provider (doctor or primary care nurse) will be able to tell you and your parents when you need to be vaccinated. If you have questions about your immunity, talk to your parents or health care provider.

Vaccines can protect you from:

• blood infection
• diphtheria
• ear infection
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
  
• influenza
  
• measles (red measles)
• meningitis
• mumps
• pertussis (whooping cough)
• pneumonia
• polio
• rubella (German measles)
• tetanus (lockjaw)
  
• varicella (chicken pox)