Science Common Sense

126 - How do vaccines help prevent diseases?

Vaccines help prevent diseases by teaching your body's immune system to fight off a specific sickness. Here's how:

1. A vaccine has a very small and harmless piece of a germ (such as a virus or bacteria) or a weakened version of the germ.
2. When you get vaccinated, your body sees this small piece of the germ and thinks, 'Oh no, we need to protect ourselves!'
3. Your immune system creates special soldiers called antibodies that are designed to fight that specific germ.
4. Next time you're exposed to the real germ, your antibodies are ready to fight it off and keep you from getting sick.

Think of vaccines like building an army in your body that can protect you from diseases.