Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases.
Why vaccines are important?
Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent up to three million deaths worldwide every year.
Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or seen very rarely.
Other diseases like measles and diphtheria have been reduced by up to 99.9% since their vaccines were introduced.
However, if people stop having vaccines, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again. This is currently the case for measles and the MMR vacciantion. Please see our measles page and the importance of the MMR vacciantion for more information.
For more information on how vaccines work visit the NHS website here:
Also see:
- Common questions for parents and carers (also referenced below).
- The Oxford University Vaccine Knowledge project has further useful information (including about side effects) and stories.
- Watch a session hosted by BEAT 103.6PM on childhood immunisations. Experts and medical practitioners from the NW London ICS answer important questions such as what vaccinations are and why they are important.
- Primary course Immunisations at one year of age Product code 2022QG1EN
- Pre-school booster Pre-school vaccinations: guide to vaccinations from 2 to 5 years Product code 3197560P
- Teenage booster Immunisations for young people Product code 2902598B
- NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- Common questions from parents and carers
- Further information can be found on other NHS NW London pages
- It is very important to check newly registered children and adults are up to date with the UK schedule, especially new migrants, asylum seekers and refugees
- UKHSA have developed a tool to help health professionals check immunisation status of new entrants into the UK: UK and international immunisation schedules comparison tool
- Migrant health guide immunisation section: Immunisation: migrant health guide
- Immunisation information for migrants: Immunisation information for migrants